ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate, throughout the seasons, the mini-cutting technique as cloning method for Eucalyptus benthamii × Eucalyptus dunnii hybrids regarding to the mini-stumps survival and to the mini- cuttings production. The ministumps of H12, H19 and H20 clones were cultivated during 352 days in a clonal mini-garden under semi-hydroponic system in a sand bed, where the nutritive solution was supplied by drip irrigation. During the experiment, 27 successive mini-cuttings samplings were performed in four seasons of the year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. The experiment was conducted under whole a randomized design with five replications and four mini-stumps per replication. After 27 successive mini- cuttings samplings, the mini-stumps presented high survival percentage (89.68%), which indicated their high longevity as sprouts supply sources. The mini-cuttings production varied in function of the clone and presented a high sensitivity of seasons and temperature variations. The highest mini-cutting production occurred in warmer seasons (spring and summer), with 635.42 until 852.64 mini-cuttings m-2 variation, and the lowest in the cooler seasons (autumn and winter), with 592.38 until 629.36 mini-cuttings m-2 variation. The mini-cutting annual production was 18,934.76; 20,942.27 and 20,748.14 mini-cuttings m-2 year-1 for H12, H19 and H20 clones, respectively.
Keywords:
vegetative propagation; cloning; sprouts production; seasonality