A B S T R A C TSeedlings of açaí obtained from plant material native to floodplains (from Laranjeira and Muaná) and adapted to upland areas (cv. BRS-Pará and ecotype Hideo) were cultivated between March and October 2013 in a greenhouse, to test the hypothesis that water requirement for seedling production varies according to the origin of plant material. The seedlings were subjected to watering regimes corresponding to 40, 70, 100 and 130% of field capacity. Regardless of plant material, the production of vigorous seedlings was feasible only under irrigation of 100 and 130% of field capacity. The seedlings produced under 130% of field capacity showed higher plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, total leaf area, leaf and root biomass, total plant biomass and root/shoot ratio than those produced under 100% of field capacity. The former also showed higher net CO 2 assimilation rate, lower stomatal conductance and transpiration and higher instantaneous water use efficiency. In conclusion, the water requirement to produce vigorous seedlings of açaí does not vary within plant material and more vigorous seedlings are produced under irrigation of 130% of field capacity.Respostas morfológicas e fisiológicas de mudas de açaizeiros submetidas à diferentes regimes hídricos R E S U M O Mudas de açaizeiro produzidas a partir de materiais vegetais oriundos de várzea (procedência Laranjeira e Muaná) e adaptadas às áreas de terra firme (cv. BRS-Pará e cotipo Hideo) foram cultivadas entre março e outubro de 2013, em viveiro, para testar a hipótese de que a demanda de água para a produção de mudas vigorosas varia em função da origem do material vegetal. As mudas foram submetidas a regimes hídricos correspondentes a 40, 70, 100 e 130% da capacidade de campo. Independente do material vegetal, a produção de mudas vigorosas foi viável apenas nos regimes hídricos de 100% e 130% da capacidade de campo; desses, as mudas produzidas sob 130% da capacidade de campo apresentaram maior altura, diâmetro do caule, número de folhas, área foliar total, biomassa de raízes e folhas, biomassa total e razão raiz parte aérea; além disto, apresentaram maior taxa de assimilação líquida de CO 2 , menor condutância estomática e transpiração e maior eficiência instantânea do uso da água; concluindo, a demanda hídrica para produção de mudas de açaizeiro não varia com a origem do material vegetal e a produção de mudas mais vigorosas se dá pelo uso de irrigação correspondente a 130% da capacidade de campo.

No abstract

Lower growth rate of the açaí palm seedlings limits the crops' commercial expansion. The goal was evaluating the biometry, biomass accumulation, nutrient contents, chlorophyll-a fluorescence, and gas exchange in açaí seedlings inoculated with rhizobacteria. The treatments were individual inoculations of the seven rhizobacteria isolates and one control (without inoculation) on the roots. Biometry and biomass data were submitted to cluster analysis to separate the isolates into groups according to the similarity degree, and groups' means were compared through the SNK test. Three groups were formed; group 1 was composed of the control; group 2 of the UFRA-35, UFRA-38, UFRA-58, UFRA-61, UFRA-92, and BRM-32111 isolates; and group 3 was composed of the BRM-32113 isolate. Group 2 and 3 isolates promoted an increase in growth, biomass accumulation, higher levels of nutrients and chlorophyll, and improvements in the gas exchange and chlorophyll-a fluorescence in comparison with the control. The results evidenced that the rhizobacteria accelerate the growth, increase the photosynthetic efficiency, and induce the leaf nutrient accumulation in açaí palm seedlings. The rhizobacteria inoculation can contribute to the sustainable management of the açaí palm seedling production in nurseries.

No abstract

No abstract