Abstract
The successful establishment of a forest restoration program depends of the seedling quality, and the choice of substrate and growing environment plays a significant role in the production of high-quality seedlings. A study was conducted to evaluate the production of croada seedlings (Mouriri elliptica Mart.) grown in thirteen substrate combinations and subjected to two production nurseries constructed with black shading screen (Sombrite®) and aluminized thermal-reflective screen (Aluminet®). The substrates were prepared from different proportions of bovine manure, soil, vermiculite, and sand. In each protected environment, the thirteen different substrate compositions were arranged in a completely randomized design with five replicates of the five seedlings each. Because there was no replication of the cultivation environments, the joint analysis was carried out, allowing the comparison of the environments in the factorial scheme 2 × 13 (two environments × thirteen substrates). Growth and quality of seedlings were measured at 188 days. Seedling production environment has no effect on the germination and emergence process of the seedlings, but the growth and quality of the seedlings can be improved when grown in the nursery with black shading screen. Substrates containing low proportion of bovine manure (from 10 to 30%) and high proportion of vermiculite (from 30 to 40%) resulted in high-quality croada seedlings.
Highlights
The Brazilian tropical savanna region (Cerrado) occupies an area of 204 million hectares of Central Brazil, representing about 23% of the national territory and has one of the most extensive biodiversity of Brazilian fauna and flora
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of seedling production nurseries constructed with black shading screen or aluminized thermal-reflective screen, and thirteen substrate combinations for the production of croada seedlings (Mouriri elliptica Mart.)
The results of the individual analysis showed that the ratio between the residual mean square (RMSr) of the two production environments was less than 7.0 for all traits measured
Summary
The Brazilian tropical savanna region (Cerrado) occupies an area of 204 million hectares of Central Brazil, representing about 23% of the national territory and has one of the most extensive biodiversity of Brazilian fauna and flora. Among the native fruit species of this region, Mouriri elliptica Mart. Mouriri elliptica Mart., commonly known in Brazil as “croada”, “croadinha”, “coroa de frade”, “puçá” or “puçazeiro”, is a perennial tropical fruit tree of the family Melastomataceae, typical of the Brazilian Cerrado It produces nutritious fruits that contain high levels of antioxidant compounds, which can be consumed in natura or processed into juices, jellies, jams, and ice creams (Rufino et al, 2010). This non-traditional fruit species has significant potential for food and medicine use (Silva et al, 2001) and can be used in the restoration and preservation programs of forest areas. Studies on the appropriate technologies for the production of croada seedlings are scarce
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