The propagation of grapes is ordinarily carried out by vegetative methods like cuttings and graftings, which not always present satisfactory results, especially for those species with low rooting ability, endangering the commercial production. The muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.) is considered recalcitrant for rooting. Its propagation by cuttings shows that growth regulators have few or no benefits on rooting. Nowadays, air-layering is reported as a propagation method that promotes good rooting when combined with the application of growth regulators. This work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of air-layering process in relation to muscadine grape rooting, as well as to study the callus and the adventitious root anatomy. The results showed that the practice of ringing is more successfull than the bark retreating for rooting. The addition of naphtalene acetic acid did not affect significantly the rooting. The adventitious roots appeard close to the cambial area at the node and internode branch regions. There was no root formation from callus tissue. Its tissue was characterized by meristematic activity and absence of starch.
Vitis rotundifolia Michx.; air-layering; callus; adventitious roots; grape
