This work was carried out in Dourados-MS, from October 2nd, 2003, to August 21st, 2004, in a Dystrorthox Soil, clay texture. The objective was to evaluate the productivity capacity of 'Comum' industrial Arrowroot using three types of propagules. Propagules were pieces of rhizomes with six buds, got from the base (3.7 g to 9.0 g; average of 6.0 g) from medium part (7.1g to 17.7g; average 11.9g) or from the rhizome apex (10.2g to 23.5g; average of 16.7g). Treatments were arranged in a randomized experimental block design with eight replications. Harvest was done on 324 days after planting. Fresh mass of leaves, on harvest date, did not differ statistically between propagules. There were significative increases of 1.40 t ha-1; 8.88 t ha-1; 6.52 t ha-1; 1.13 t ha-1 and 1.23 t ha-1, respectively, for fresh masses of roots of total rhizomes, of big, medium and small rhizomes from plants which originated from propagules of medium part of rhizomes, in relation to the bases. Number of rhizomes per hectare and unitary mass of rhizomes were influenced significantly by types of propagules, with variable differences inside each size of produced rhizome. Rhizomes of medium and small sizes were influenced by type of propagules, which were higher in plants originated from medium part of rhizomes in relation to those originated from apexes or bases. In the conditions wich the experiment was carried out, it was conclude that, for 'Comum" arrowroot planting, it is recommended the use of propagules originated from pieces of medium part or the apex of the rhizomes with six buds.
Maranta arundinaceae L.; sprouts; rhizomes; productivity
