Resumo

BENITEZ, Bárbara; SOTO, F; YONG, Ania  e  NUNEZ, Miriam. CRECIMIENTO DE PLANTAS DE PALMA ARECA (Dypsis lutescens, H. Wendel) CON ASPERSIONES FOLIARES DE UNA MEZCLA DE OLIGOGALACTURÓNIDOS. cultrop [online]. 2008, vol.29, n.3, pp. 81-85. ISSN 0258-5936.

Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens, H. Wendel) culture has reached its peak in the latest years, since it constitutes the most economically important species from the marketing point of view in Cuba; however, it takes about 15 months to achieve the adequate height for sale. The foliar spraying of an oligogalacturonide mixture, a citrus peel-derived product obtained at INCA, has proved to be a growth promoter. Thus, a first experiment was conducted and its results supported the second one, both at INCA, to spray this mixture to leaves at concentrations of 2, 10 and 20 mg.L-1, besides a nonsprayed control treatment. Foliar sprayings were applied after three, six, and three and six months of plant emergence. The following growth variables were evaluated every three months: plant height, leaf number, leaf area and total dry weight. Treatments were compared by means of Confidence Intervals. Results showed the potentialities of the oligogalacturonide mixture as a growth stimulant in plants of areca palm, when sprayed at a concentration of 2 mg.L-1 after three and six months of its emergence, so reducing its nursing time.

Palavras-chave : areca; Dypsis lutescens; pectins; growth.