Geranium seedlings: bud positions in the stake and substrates

Abstract

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) has several potential substances as bioactive agents, sought by both the food industry, such as cosmetics. It is known that the form of the stake extraction and the substrate used impacts in the formation and quality of seedlings. In this sense, we aimed to evaluate geranium seedlings due to position of the bud's cutting and substrates. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, in factorial 3 x 3: types of substrate (sand, soil and 50% sand added to 50% of soil) and bud positions at stake (apex, middle and base), with four replications. Geranium plants should be grown preferentially in substrate to allow a better development of the root system and the sand mixed with soil is a good option. Only the cutting from apex bud's gives plants the condition of this study, therefore, for use in other segments it is necessary to improve management with the use of plant inducers.