Cuttings of post fire epicormic shoots of Ilex paraguariensis and Cabralea canjerana adult plants

ABSTRACT: The aim of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of rescuing adult plants by cuttings from post-fire epicormic shoots. We evaluated the native tree species erva mate ( Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) and canjerana ( Cabralea canjerana Vell. Mart.), which present difficult seedling production and are economically and ecologically important. The plant material used for the preparation of cuttings consisted of shoots from bud differentiation of tissue from the stem collar of the trees. One-bud cuttings of erva mate were treated with 4000 or 8000mg L-1 of indolebutiric acid (IBA) and the checks were not treated with auxins. The cuttings were grown in three different substrates: carbonized rice husks, vermiculite and coarse sand. The experiment was a factorial with a completely random design and five replicates of five cuttings. One-bud cuttings from the basal, intermediate and apical parts of canjerna shoots were treated with 0 or 6000mg L-1 of IBA and planted in commercial substrate and coarse sand (3:2 v/v). The experiment was a factorial with a completely random design and ten replicates of three cuttings. Cuttings from post-fire epicormic shoots can be used for rescuing erva mate and canjerana adult plants. Erva mate cuttings treated with 8000mgL-1 IBA have increased rooting when grown in coarse sand. Canjerana cuttings from the basal part of epicormic shoots have greater survival and rooting than those from intermediate and apical parts