Rooting Ability of Stem Cuttings of Macleania rupestris Kunth A.C. Sm., a South American Fruit Species

Abstract

Macleania rupestris Kunth A.C. Sm. (Ericaceae) is a wild shrub native to the Andean montane forests and regions of páramo that possesses edible berries. The lack of a propagation protocol for this species further limits its use in commercial cultivation. The rooting ability of leafy stem cuttings of Macleania rupestris was evaluated as affected by cutting position on the mother plant and application of growth regulators, indolebutyric acid (IBA) or naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), at 0, 100, 500, or 1000 mg L-1. Semi-hardwood cuttings collected from the central parts of the stems presented the highest rooting, 75.5% on average, compared to softwood (71.7%) and hardwood (49.8%) cuttings. Hardwood basal cuttings produced more callus and shoot mass and fewer adventitious roots than softwood apical cuttings. Softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings of Macleania rupestris treated with IBA or NAA at the concentrations close to 500 mg L-1 produced the highest number (up to 14.0 per cutting) of adventitious roots at day 120. For propagation of Macleania rupestris through stem cuttings, selection of cuttings from the apical and middle parts of the stem and applying IBA or NAA at 500 mg L-1 to stimulate rooting is recommended. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.