Evaluation of grafting and budding methods in Baru tree seedlings (<i>Dipteryx alata</i> Vogel, Fabaceae)

Abstract

The Baru tree presents great social and economic potential, however, most of the plants of this species are found in a wild form in nature and the collection of fruits is undertaken through extractivism. Cultivated plantations of the species are created using seedlings that come from seeds, however, because the plant is predominantly allogamous, individuals present great genetic variability. In this case, vegetative propagation becomes a good strategy and an important tool for the domestication of the species. This study has the objective of evaluating methods of plant grafting in the production of baru seedlings. Three types of grafting and budding were tested (shield budding, cleft and splice grafting) in three rootstock seedling driving systems, in a completely randomized design. The seedlings were obtained from seeds and before the grafting took place, the growth of the seedlings was evaluated. The seedlings were grafted when the stalks of the rootstocks had reached an average diameter of ≥ 1,0 c, at 10 cm from the soil. The growth averages of the seedlings were compared by the Tukey test and the grafting or budding techniques by the chi-square test. The results showed that the three types of grafting or budding and the cleft grafting were adequate for seedlings in full sunlight and under a shade greenhouse, respectively. The systems for the creation of seedlings in plastic bags in full sunlight permit an average grafting setting higher than 50%.