Propagação por Fracionamento do Cladódio de Palmas Forrageiras Resistentes a Cochonilha do Carmim.

Abstract

The “palma forrageira” (forage cactus) is a relevant cactacea virtually irreplaceable in the Brazilian semiarid region (SAB or RSA) in view of the large periodic droughts that afflict more than 22 million inhabitants, where its cultivation culminates in the availability of fodder in these dry times. The creators have a variety “gigante” (giant), known scientifically Opontia ficus-indica (L.) Mill, as the main source of power in this period. However, this scenario presents a drastic change in view of the consequences of a pest that plagues the current cactus plantations (palmais) around the Northeast of Brazil, which is the cochineal carmine (Dactylopius opuntiae). This study aimed to evaluate the consolidation of a method of plant propagation, called fractionation cladodes of resistant varieties of cactus forage as a fundamental tool for the rapid repopulation of cactus growing areas affected by the cochineal carmine. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with 14 treatments and 04 replications and each plot was coming from a split 7 regions of cladodes (rackets) divided perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis thereof. There was a cure period of eight days, followed by planting and kept watering weekly and at 120 days, evaluated the index fractions sprouted, living not sprouted, area and thickness of the shoots. It was observed that the variety Bahia Nopalea sp. showed a variation of fractions sprouted to the age of cladodes, cladodes with emphasis on tertiary 17.5% more shoots, and the regions of the same, with satisfactory evidence of the basal third not booing, however, the area fractions formed and little thickness. For a variety of ear-elephant-Mexican Opuntia tuna, age did not influence the cladodes fractions sprouted between regions highlighted only the region 7, noting that there was no influence in the areas and thicknesses. Thus we recommend a variety of Bahia forage cactus Nopalea sp. to propagate by this method, unlike the variety of ear-elephant-Mexican Opuntia tuna that through the results, it is shown feasible for restocking cactus plantations (palmais) by fractionation of the cladodes.