DIFFERENT SHADING INTENSITIES INTERFERE WITH THE GROWTH OF Myrocarpus frondosus ALLEMÃO SEEDLINGS IN THE NURSERY?

Native tree species present different responses depending on their adaptability to varying degrees of sunlight. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth of Myrocarpus frondosus seedlings under different shade conditions in a nursery. The experimental design included randomized blocks in a factorial scheme, corresponding to treatments of full sun (0%), or one of three shading intensities (30%, 50%, and 70%), with evaluation times of 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, 330, and 390 days after emergence – d.a.e. The evaluation of the morphological attributes height (H) and stem diameter (SD) were determined every 60 days, and H/SD ratio were calculated. At 390 d.a.e, the following attributes were evaluated: aerial dry matter, (ADM), root dry matter (RDM), total dry matter, (TDM), Dickson quality index (DQI), leaf area (LA), root volume (RV), and root length. The pigment contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and chlorophyll a/b ratio were also identified, along with carotenoid content, maximum quantum yield PSII (Fv/Fm), and electron transport rate (ETR). Myrocarpus frondosus requires shading in its initial stage of growth, at an ideal intensity of 50% or 70% for producing seedlings.