With the objective of assessing the rooting efficiency of semi-woody cuttings of olive tree (Olea europaea L.), with different nodes, an experiment under intermittent misty room conditions and with the use of IBA at the concentration of 3000 mg L-1 was run at the Centro de Investigación y Formación Agraria 'Alameda del Obispo' in Cordoba, Spain. The cuttings were treated before the establishment of the trial, soaking their bases, about 2.5 cm, for five minutes in a solution containing the product. Median cuttings, which were collected from plants in continuous vegetative development, were utilized. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 2 x 5 factorial. Two cultivars 'Picual' and 'Arbequina', and five sizes of cuttings: two nodes with two leaves, three nodes with two leaves, three nodes with four leaves, four nodes with four leaves, and five nodes with four leaves were used. Four replicates were utilized, with experimental plots made up of thirty cuttings planted in perlite substrate, on raised tables, with controlled heating. After seventy five days, percentage of roots, dead cuttings, and number and average length of roots were evaluated. It was found that between cuttings of four and five nodes, with four leaves, there were no differences in the considered parameters. Cuttings with three nodes, with two and four leaves also did not distinguish. Cuttings with two nodes and two leaves from both varieties presented greater mortality.
Olea europaea; propagation; cuttings; large cuttings
