Vegetative propagation of Campomanesia phaea by the air-layering and grafting techniques

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the air-layering and grafting techniques in the production of cambuci (Campomanesia phaea) plants. Two experiments were conducted in randomized complete blocks for air-layering, using adult cambuci plants, and two completely randomized for the grafting, using seedlings. Air layering was evaluated with different rates of indolebutyric acid; the splice, side-veneer, and chip-budding techniques were used for grafting. Air-layering rooting was not favored by the application of indolebutyric acid rates, whereas side-veneer grafts ensured the fixation of 6% of the grafts. Histological analyses of the air layers revealed the action of parenchyma cells from the xylem in the formation of structures similar to calluses. In the grafted plants, these cells ensured tissue union and regeneration. The air-layering technique was unfeasible, but grafting is recommended to establish cambuci tree genotypes.