Growth and quality of Brazilian pine tree seedlings as affected by container type and volume

Abstract

Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze (Araucariaceae), commonly known as araucaria and Brazilian pine tree, can be grown for their edible pine nuts (pinhões), medicinal properties, and ornamental purposes. The aim was to assess the shoot and root growth and the overall quality of A. angustifolia seedlings grown in containers with different sizes, shapes and composition. Seeds were sowed in five containers: I – 126cm3 polypropylene cone-tainers (small cone-tainers); II – 290cm3 cone-tainers (large cone-tainers); III – 879cm3 polyethylene black bags; IV- 275 cm3 nonwoven fabric (TNT) containers (small TNT container) and; 493 cm3 nonwoven fabric (TNT) containers (large TNT container). Seedlings were evaluated 210 days after sowing, regarding the following variables: aboveground height (cm), root collar diameter (mm), shoot dry mass (g), roots dry mass (g), total dry mass (g), leaf area (cm2), roots area (cm2), roots volume (cm3), sturdiness quotient, root-shoot ratio and Dickson quality index. Height was superior for seedlings grown in the plastic bags (27.6 cm) and the large TNT containers (27.02 cm) when compared to the small and large cone-tainers (21.75 and 21.78 cm, respectively). Plastic bags also presented greater values of root-collar diameter, shoots, roots and total biomass and Dickson Quality index. Small and large TNT containers promoted lower root area and volume when compared to large polyethylene cone-tainers, but allowed for the same or better aboveground growth. Taking all results analyzed together, the polyethylene black bag promoted better growth and quality of Brazilian pine tree seedlings in comparison to the other containers.

Physiological and morphological responses of seedlings of Guazuma ulmifolia (Malvaceae) grown under phosphorus levels

“…Consequently, the phosphorus levels influenced the Dickson Quality Index the seedlings of G. ulmifolia. This index determines seedling quality based on several morphological features, minimizing the possible errors that may occur by using only one or two features (Vieira et al 2019). Therefore, with the results obtained, it is safe to affirm that the P levels increased the quality of the seedlings of G. ulmifolia.…”

Growth and quality of Geronggang (Cratoxylum arborescens) seedling in different types of growing mediums and containers

“…sturdiness, shoot dry mass/root dry mass ratio and Dickson quality index were quantified [15]. Sturdiness was quantified as the ratio of H (cm)/collar diameter (mm) (Vieira et al, 2019). The Dickson quality index (DQI) was calculated using an equation [16]: DQI = total dry mass (g) sturdiness+ shoot dry mass (g) root dry mass (g) (1) The difference of growth and seedling quality based on the difference of medium, container and its interaction were tested by the two-way ANOVA.…”

Substrates based on swine wastewater in the production of seedlings of Guazuma ulmifolia (Malvaceae)

“…In this way, in the present study, substrates 4 and 5 were the ones that provided the highest number of leaves and, therefore, showed the highest values of stomatal conductance, transpiration, and photosynthetic rate, which were also obtained with these treatments, along with the greater accumulation of stem and leaf dry mass. Another variable that should be considered is the Dickson Quality Index, which determines seedling quality based on several morphological features, minimizing possible errors that may occur by using only one or two features (Vieira et al 2019). The higher this index, the higher seedling quality, and so, substrates 4, 5, and 6 were the ones that promoted the highest quality mutambo seedlings since the highest indices were obtained with these treatments.…”