Advances in the spread of vegetative blueberry

Avanços na propagação vegetativa de mirtileiro

Abstract

The lack of an efficient method of propagation in some cultivars makes it difficult to expand the blueberry culture. In Brazil, we still do not produce seedlings with needed quality and quantity to improve the sector. The cloning of the selected material through mini propagation and micro propagation is an alternative to increase the multiplication and rooting capacity of the blueberries. Allied to this, the use of cultivation system without soil for the development of cloned material facilitates the seedlings production. In addition, we can keep matrices in small spaces with the use of mini-gardens and clonal micro-gardens controlling climatic and nutritional factors. In the Laboratory of Fruit Plants Propagation, of the Phytotechnology Department of the School of Agronomy Eliseu Maciel of the Federal University of Pelotas we have searching for more than ten years the micro propagation and the mini propagation allied to the clonal gardens kept in a protected place, reducing the physical space and improving phytosanitary control. The experiments carried out brought important information regarding to the vegetative propagation of the blueberry to improve the seedling production process for this species. In this way, researches that have been realized seek to generate knowledge about the best way of propagating and conducting this fruit.

Index terms
seedlings; cloning; mini propagation and micro propagation; cultivation system without soil