The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the number of leaves and test the effect of different doses of IBA (indolbutiric acid) in cutting propagation of acerola. The experimental design was entirely randomized, in a factor arrangement (5 X 3), with five different concentration of IBA (0, 1600, 2000, 2400 and 2800 mg.L-1) and three different types of cuttings (without leaves, one pair of leaves and two pairs of leaves). The cuttings were obtained from plants of the UFLA's orchard collection, padronized with 15 cm of length and treated with solution of IBA for 5 seconds. After that, they were taken to polypropylene trays filled with vermiculite and stayed under greenhouse conditions for 100 days. Rooting percentage, roots length, number of leaves and roots dry matter were evaluated. The presence of leaves is important for the rooting of aceroleira cuttings, in cuttings without leaves it didn't occur the formation of roots. Aceroleira cuttings with two pairs of leaves, treated with 2800 mg.L-1 of IBA presented larger rooting percentage (50%) and length of the roots (9 cm). The concentration of 2800 mg.L-1 of IBA provided larger number and dry matter of the roots for aceroleira rooting. The two pairs of leaves in aceroleira rooting provided larger number and dry matter of the roots.
Malpighia glabra L.; propagation; IBA
