Propagação sexuada e assexuada de talinum paniculatum (jacq.) gaertn.

Abstract

Talinum paniculatum is an unconventional food plant with nutritional and medicinal potential, yet it remains underexplored. Seed germination in this species may be limited by environmental factors and the occurrence of dormancy, requiring techniques that promote seedling establishment. Vegetative propagation emerges as an alternative method for its multiplication, potentially overcoming the limitations associated with sexual propagation. However, the lack of information on efficient propagation methods represents a barrier to the cultivation and valorization of this species. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate sexual and vegetative propagation methods of T. paniculatum under the environmental conditions of Central Amazonia. The research was conducted at the Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Sector of the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, using seeds and cuttings obtained from stock plants cultivated in a nursery. Three experiments were carried out: (1) evaluation of pre-soaking periods (0, 24, and 48 hours) and different germination conditions (sand at 25 °C, blotting paper at 25 °C, and commercial substrate under natural environmental conditions); (2) evaluation of cutting types (apical, middle, and basal) collected from stock plants aged 2, 4, and 6 months; and (3) evaluation of apical and basal cuttings with lengths of 5 and 10 cm. Germination conditions significantly influenced the performance of T. paniculatum seeds, with germination occurring only in commercial substrate maintained under natural environmental conditions, whereas pre-soaking periods had no significant effect. In the second experiment, basal cuttings obtained from six-month-old stock plants exhibited the highest percentages of survival, rooting, and sprouting, as well as the greatest number of shoots and biomass accumulation. In the third experiment, basal propagules and cuttings measuring 10 cm in length provided superior seedling establishment and vigor, demonstrating their superiority for species propagation. The propagation of T. paniculatum proved feasible under the environmental conditions of Central Amazonia, highlighting the species' potential for seedling production. These results contribute to the development of more efficient propagation strategies and to the promotion of this unconventional vegetable as an alternative for diversifying productive and food systems.