Espinheira-santa (Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek), which belongs to the Celastraceae family, is a medicinal species native to the south region of Brazil, used in gastritis and gastric ulcer treatment. Studies about plant production by cutting have shown that this species is considered difficult to root. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the influence of different substrates on the rooting capacity of espinheira-santa minicuttings. Apical minicuttings with 3-4cm and two half-cut leaves were collected from 10-month-old ministump sprouts kept in a greenhouse and planted on sand boxes and polypropylene tubes filled with carbonized rice hull, Plantmax HT®or fine granulated vermiculite. The minicuttings were kept in a greenhouse under intermittent mist. After 90 days, the following variables were evaluated: percentage of rooted cuttings, number and average length of roots per cutting, percentage of cuttings presenting calluses, survival and mortality rate. A completely randomized design of four treatments with 22 minicuttings per experimental unit and four replications was used. Statistical analysis revealed that sand (92.04%), carbonized rice hulls (88.66%) and Plantmax HT®(94.31%) presented significantly higher rooting capacity and lower mortality than vermiculite (78.41%). Vegetative propagation of espinheira-santa by using minicuttings is viable.
Maytenus ilicifolia; minicutting; medicinal plant
