Propagation of Aloysia citriodora Palau Using Different Cutting Types under Light Intensity

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of types of cuttings and light intensity on cidró vegetative propagation.

Place and Duration of Study: Medicinal Plants Garden, Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, September to November 2016.

Methodology: The experiment was carried out under two light conditions (shaded and full light), evaluating three types of cuttings (softwood, semi-hardwood and hardwood). Experimental design was a 2 x 3 factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications.

Results: Hardwood cuttings showed the highest survival rates (86% and 82%), regardless of light. Highest fresh weight (0.6062 g plant-1) and dry mass (0.2987 g plant-1) with a leaf of 44.57 cm2 were from hardwood cuttings, regardless of the light, while the longest root length were those of softwood cuttings under full light. Physiological indices varied as a function of light intensity, The highest values of leaf area ratio (46.11 cm2 g-1) and specific leaf mass (0.0037 g cm-2) occurred in cuttings under full light.

Conclusion: The vegetative propagation of cidró can be carried out using the hardwood portion of the cutting branch, under full light.