PROPAGAÇÃO DA GOIABEIRA POR MINIESTAQUIA 1

Minicutting is a method of vegetative propagation widely used in the formation of clonal minigarden of Eucalyptus. This technique presents potential to be used for fast multiplication of new genotypes of guava, giving support to breeding work and, also, as a more appropriate technology for use in certified propagation programs. This study was carried out to evaluate the viability of the minicutting technique as a method of guava propagation (Psidium guajava L.). Seedlings of guava, 118 days after sowing, were detopped and from this blunt 210 minicuttings were prepared, 13.5 mm to 37.9 mm long, and placed in commercial substrata to rooting in intermittent mist chamber. Fourty days after, 76% of the minicuttings have rooted and emitted aerial part. The ministumps of guava presented average of 1.52 sprouts per blunted seedling. Minicuttings of regrowth were prepared from the seedlings, 39 days after blunt. Thirty-five days after been planted, these minicuttings, with average length of 13.56 mm, presented 100% of rooting. Results demonstrated the viability of minicutting for fast multiplication of guava, which can give support to breeding works in preliminary selections of interesting genotypes. Index terms: Psidium guajava, rooting cuttings, vegetative propagation, tropical horticulture, genetic improvement.