Influence of dipping time in water and of growth regulators on the Guaco (Mikania glomerata Spreng.) vegetative propagation

Guaco is a climbing vine of Asteraceae family that is popularly used for th e treatment of respiratory problems. The objective of this work was to eval uate the influence of dipping in water, stem cutting position and the use o f growth regulators on the rooting of stem cuttings. The experiments were c arried out in greenhouse in October 1995. The treatments of the first exper iment were applied to cuttings from the different positions of the stem (ap ical, medium and basal). Each set of three cuttings was then dipped in wate r for one, twelve and twenty four hours, respectively. The influence of dip ping in water and growth regulators was evaluated in another experiment. Th e average stem size was 1.5 to 2.0 m which was divided in three parts (apic al, medium and basal). Stem cuttings maintained two half leaves and were 15 cm in size. This vegetative material was submitted to dipping treatments a nd planted in pots of washed sand. After 40 days, the root weight, stem wei ght and rooting percentage were evaluated. The treatment with one hour of d ipping increased the rooting percentage averages, except for the basal stem cuttings. The rooting percentage varied between 62.5 to 100%, according to the treatment. The best averages were verified on treatments of dipping in water (95%) and in indole-3-propionic solution (93%). The indole-3-butyric acid reduced the rooting percentage average (81%).