Influence of luminosity on the initial growth of Carapa guianensis, Clitoria fairchildiana and Inga edulis tree seedlings

Abstract

The success of forest plantations can be improved by understanding the response of plants to different environmental conditions. The objective of this study is to evaluate the growth and leaf characteristics of tree seedlings subjected to different levels of luminosity. The experiment was conducted in nursery conditions, where seedlings of Carapa guianensis, Clitoria fairchildiana and Inga edulis were subjected to the following treatments: T50 = 50% shading, T75 = 75% shading, and SL = sunlight. During 90 days, height, stem diameter (SD), specific leaf area (SLA), chlorophyll content index (CCI) and F_v/F_m ratio were determined. C. fairchildiana showed a greater growth in height and better responses of F_v/F_m in the T75 treatment. I. edulis showed higher values for SLA in all treatments compared to the other species. Both C. fairchildiana and I. edulis presented increases in CCI values in function of time when compared with C. guianensis, which reduced CCI values. Under the evaluated conditions, C. fairchildiana showed a better development, while C. guianensis did not develop well.