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Abstract

Specific clones of tannia are commonly used as cooking leaves in some Brazilian states. The crop is propagated exclusively as exually by planting the rhizomes usually after a few years of production. Because of that, there is the need to establish strategies to propagate healthy plantlets with higher sprouting rate for leaf production. This work had the goals to evaluate the influence of growth regulators and carving of the rhizomes sprouting and growth of tannia. Cured rhizomes from the clone 'Caipira' were stored for three months at 5ºC and 89% relative humidity. Afterward, the top of half of the rhizomes were carved in a V shape at the top (carving), to stimulate lateral sprouting. The rhizomes were submerged for 30 minutes in solutions containing 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and/or 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon), and the respective control. The production of new leaves and expansion of leaf area were stimulated by treating the rhizomes with 500 mg L