A cultura do tungue (Aleurites fordii) no Rio Grande do Sul: caracterização de populações, propagação e desempenho agronômico

Abstract

The tung is a temperate deciduous species of the Euphorbiaceae family that needs about 350 to 400 chilling hours to resume growth after winter. This species is cultivated in order to produce oil, which is extracted from seeds by pressing or using solvents. The results of research on this crop in Brazil are few. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate genetic variability in two tung populations in Pelotas, evaluate the yield of commercial plantations in the Serra Gaúcha region and compare methods of vegetative propagation. The observations occurred during growing season 2007/2008, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. The populations showed variability in yield, earliness and number of female and male flowers. The average productivity of 8.232kg.ha-1 of dried fruit with the almond oil content of 47% demonstrates high oil yield, exceeding annual crops currently grown in Brazil; producing plants from seeds demands previous seed scarification; for vegetative propagation, the best method is the use of grafting cleft and cleft, with herbaceous branches.