The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale), a native Brazilian fruit tree, is cultivated primarily for its nuts and the cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), which is extensively used in various industries. Additionally, the cashew apple holds significant economic value in Brazil. Recent research on the species focuses on improving its productivity by selecting new clones with specific traits.
Traditionally, cashew trees were propagated from seeds, but this practice has been largely replaced by vegetative propagation, with seeds now primarily used for root stock production. Lateral grafting is the most common method for vegetative propagation, although other techniques, such as air layering and tissue culture, have been explored. While tissue culture holds potential for large-scale clonal propagation, its high cost requires further investigation and development.