Variation in stem cutting propagation success among genotypes of feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana) is a native species from southern Brazil and northeastern Uruguay, valued for its aromatic and edible fruit. The establishment of commercial orchards has been constrained by the limited rooting ability of selected cultivars, creating a major bottleneck for large-scale propagation. This study assessed the rooting performance of semi-hardwood stem cuttings from 49 plant selections and 11 commercial cultivars over two consecutive years (2023 and 2024). A randomized complete block design with five replicates was used. Each experimental unit consisted of ten semi-hardwood cuttings, 120–150 mm in length, collected in autumn from adult plants. Cuttings were placed in containers with a substrate composed of two-thirds perlite and one-third vermiculite, maintained in a greenhouse under intermittent misting for five months, without application of exogenous hormones. Rooting percentages across genotypes ranged from 7% to 85%, while callus formation varied between 6% and 85%. The average number of roots per rooted cutting ranged from three to twenty. Among commercial cultivars, rooting rates ranged from 28% to 52%. The results revealed wide variability in rooting ability among genotypes. Eighteen of the sixty genotypes exhibited rooting percentages above 50%, representing promising candidates for cultivar release or as parental material for breeding programs aimed at improving rooting ability.
Source: Fruit Crops Science Journal
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220409762