The rhizogenic capacitity, sprouting and vigor of cuttings from barbados cherry (Malpighia emarginata D.C) were evaluated in greenhouse conditions at the EMBRAPA - National Center for Research of Tropical Agroindustry, Fortaleza-CE, from November 2000 to January 2001, aiming to identify the best branch part and size for cuttings preparation. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, in a 3x3 factorial scheme, corresponding to three positions on the branch (apical, median and basal) and three length (10, 15 and 20 cm), with three replications composed by 10 cuttings each, and cultured on tubets of 288 cm³, filled wich a misture of organic matter (vermicompost) and carbonized rice husks (3:2 volumetric proportion), and cultivated in a greenhouse with intermittent mist. After 60 days were evaluated the percentage of surviving cuttings, rooted cuttings, roots and aerial part dry matter, number of leaves, not developed meristems, and number of new branches per cutting. Results indicated that vegetative propagation by cuttings of Barbados cherry is a feasible method, by using cuttings with 10 cm length, taken from the middle positions of the branch, and cultured under greenhouse conditions and intermittent mist.
Malpighia emarginata; cuttings; branch for cuttings; vigor
