The production of tannia [(Xanthosoma sagittifolium L.) Schott] seedlings as influenced by the type and the sectioning of rhizomes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the type of rhizome and the ways of the sectioning of the main rhizome on the production of seedlings. The experiment was carried out in Caceres, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, from October of 2006 to March of 2007. The experiment was set according to a randomized complete block design with seven treatments (only rhizome types ) and four repetitions : small secondary sprouting (BSP), medium secondary sprouting (BSM), main rhizome divided in two parts (RP1/2), apical main rhizome divided in four (RPA1/4) and eight parts (RPA1/8), and basal main rhizome divided in four (RPB1/4) and eight (RPB1/8) parts. The propagules were sown in a partially shaded (50%) sandy substratum and the resulting plantlets were later transplanted to the field so as to measure their vegetative growth. The best results as to sprouting, fresh and dry leaf and root weight, and petiole length were observed for treatments RPA1/2, RPA1/4, and RPA1/8. The apical portion tissues favored the development of adventitial structures in the propagules thus stimulating the increment of leaf area and petiole length. The sectioning of the main rhizome in two, four, or even eight parts was thus verified to be an economically viable technique for the production of tannia seedlings. Additional keywords: apical portion; clone; propagation, tropical horticulture; Xanthosoma sagittifolium