Nutrient content and cutting anatomy can affect the production of Conilon clonal plantlets

Abstract

Cutting is the main vegetative propagation method used to produce Coffea canephora plantlets. In this method, the nutritional quality of the vegetative propagule (stem cuttings) is one of the determining factors for the rooting speed and the final quality of the plantlets. Thus, the objective in this study was to verify possible variations in nutrient content and anatomical characteristics in cuttings collected at different times of the year and their relationship with the production of Coffea canephora clonal plantlets. The study was divided into two phases: 1) Nutritional composition and anatomy of C. canephora cuttings grown at different times; 2) Production of C. canephora seedlings under greenhouse conditions. The treatments consisted of cuttings collection and plantlets production at different times of the year: January, May and September 2017. We observed that there is seasonal variation for the content of N, P, K and Mg; and anatomical changes in xylem, phloem and vascular cylinder thickness in cuttings harvested at different times of the year. We conclude that although nutritional and anatomical aspects of the vegetative propagule may result in different vegetative growth rates of C. canephora clonal plantlets, this result is more dependent on the management of the nursery environment conditions, especially temperature and relative air humidity.