Cutting type and substrate on vegetative propagation of Lippia gracilis Schauer

Abstract

Lippia gracilis is a native plant of the Caatinga, it is rich in essential oil with antimicrobial activity. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of different types of cuttings and substrates on vegetative propagation of L. gracilis. The experimental design was completely randomized, in factorial scheme 3 x 3, with 3 types of cuttings (apical, median and basal) and 3 substrates (sand + humus, clay + humus and sand + clay + humus), with 5 replications each. After 40 days were evaluated: percentage of sprouted cuttings and rooted, average number of shoots, length of roots and dry biomass of shoots and roots. In all variables the middle and basal cuttings showed better results than the apical. The substrate influenced only in the dry biomass of shoots. The substrate composed of clay + humus was better than the sand + clay + humus and equal in significance to the sand + humus.