ABSTRACT The study aimed to evaluate the growth of ornamental cherry tomato plants in different protected environments and reflective materials on the cultivation benches. As there were no repetitions of the protected environments, each environment was considered an experiment. In each environment, the experimental design used was completely randomized with five replications and three plants per plot. From the analysis of individual variances and evaluation of the mean squares of residues smaller than seven, the joint analysis of variance was performed (three protected environments x three reflective materials on the cultivation bench + 1 control without material). The protected environments evaluated were the agricultural greenhouse with a screen of 42-50% shading under the film, the agricultural screenhouse with a black screen of 30% shading, and the agricultural screenhouse with an aluminized screen of 35% shading. The reflective materials on the cultivation bench were Aluminet®, white Formica laminate, and red Formica laminate. The different protected environments influenced the growth of plants, and due to the lower incident light, the plants showed greater height in the agricultural greenhouse (42-50% shading). The reflective benches did not interfere with plant height but favored fruit production. The agricultural greenhouse (42-50% shading)) stands among the environments. For the reflective materials on the bench, aluminized fabric and red Formica laminate stood out, as they favored the growth of cherry tomato plants with desirable ornamental traits, such as greater fruit production.

RESUMO Objetivou-se com esse trabalho avaliar o crescimento de plantas ornamentais de tomateiro cereja em diferentes ambientes protegidos e materiais refletores sobre as bancadas de cultivo. Por não haver repetições dos ambientes protegidos, cada ambiente foi considerado um experimento. Em cada ambiente, o delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado com cinco repetições e três plantas por parcela. A partir das análises de variâncias individuais e avaliação dos quadrados médios dos resíduos menor que sete foi realizada a análise conjunta (três ambientes protegidos x três materiais refletores sobre a bancada de cultivo + 1 uma testemunha sem material). Os ambientes protegidos avaliados foram a estufa agrícola com tela de 42-50% de sombreamento sob o filme, o telado agrícola com tela preta de 30% de sombreamento e o telado agrícola com tela aluminizada de 35% de sombreamento. Os materiais refletores sobre a bancada de cultivo foram o Aluminet®, o laminado de fórmica branca e o laminado de fórmica vermelha. Os diferentes ambientes protegidos influenciaram no crescimento das plantas, sendo que em função da menor luminosidade incidente, as plantas apresentaram maior altura na estufa plástica. As bancadas refletoras não interferiram na altura de plantas, mas favoreceram a produção de frutos. Dentre os ambientes destaca-se a estufa plástica 42-50% de sombreamento. Para os materiais refletores na bancada, destacaram-se o material aluminizado e a fórmica vermelha, pois favoreceram o crescimento de plantas de tomateiro cereja com características ornamentais desejáveis, como maior produção de frutos.

ABSTRACT Success in production of any perennial tree depends on the use of high-quality seedlings. This study aimed to evaluate cultivation benches with reflective material and protected environments for production of rubber tree rootstock seedlings. The experiments were conducted in two types of protected environments: 35% shading aluminized screen and 30% shading black screen. Cultivation benches with and without reflective material were tested inside the protected environments. A completely randomized design with 7 replications and 5 seedlings per plot was adopted for each environment, and the environments were compared by joint analysis. Solar radiation (global and photosynthetically active) was the most influencing micrometeorological factor on plant environment and plant growth differentiation. Regardless of the environment, the use of reflective material in cultivation bench had a positive effect on production of rubber rootstock seedling (clone GT1), providing seedlings with a robust root system and better quality. The use of reflective material also improved rubber tree rootstock seedlings (clone GT1) grown in the black screen environment.

ABSTRACT Plant ambiance studies the environmental condition favorable to plant growth at the initial stage of seedlings or the complete production cycle. This study aimed to evaluate the cultivation of the ornamental pepper ‘Pyramid’ under protected environments and growing benches with and without reflective material. The protected environments consisted of a greenhouse covered with low-density polyethylene film and 42/50% shading thermo-reflective screen under the film, structure with 35% shading thermo-reflective aluminized screen, and structure with 30% shading black screen. The growing benches were tested in environments without and with reflective material made of aluminized screen. The environment of the agricultural greenhouse covered with low-density polyethylene film and 42/50% thermo-reflective screen under the film favored the growth of ornamental pepper plants regarding height and diameter and provided early flowering and high fruit production. The use of the reflective material showed no significant results for plant height, stem diameter, and the number of leaves. The use of reflective material increased the number of fruits in plants under the environments with 35% shading aluminized screen and 30% shading black screen.

ABSTRACT Ornamental pepper plants produced in containers under protected environments have high added value. We carried out research with an aim to evaluate the growth and development of ornamental pepper in containers of different colors under two protected environments, both with thermal-reflective screens under a polyethylene film: one with 18–22 % shading and the other with 42–50 % in colored containers (brown, blue, black, and red). The treatments formed by a 2 × 4 factorial (environments × container colors) were arranged in a completely random pattern with 4 replications and 5 plants per plot, and a joint analysis of experiments was used to compare environments. The protected environment covered with low-density polyethylene film having 42–50 % of shading promoted higher initial growth of pepper plants, including early maturity, compared to the protected environment with 18–22 % of shading. The colored containers, namely, the brown container in a protected environment with 42–50 % shading and red container with 18–22 % shading formed plants with better growth and yield characteristics compared to the black container. The seedlings in the blue container had delayed flowering.

ABSTRACT Papaya is characterized as one of the most important crops in Brazil. Thus, good quality seedlings are essential for formation of orchards in agricultural production. This study aimed to evaluate shading levels and substrate compositions for production of papaya seedlings. Growing environments were evaluated with 0, 18, 35, and 50% shading and substrates from combinations (%) of hillside soil (HS), cattle manure (CM), Bioplant® (BP), washed fine sand (FS), and super fine-grained vermiculite (FV). As there was no replication for the growing environments, the group of experiments were analyzed using a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement (4 shades × 4 substrates), with five replications. Growth and biometric relationships were analyzed. Substrates consisting of 30% HS + 15% CM + 20% BP + 20% FS + 15% FV and 45% HS + 0% CM + 20% BP + 20% FS + 15% FV, as well as environments with 18 and 35% shading formed seedlings with higher plant heights, diameters, phytomass, and Dickson quality indices. The results showed that substrates with a higher content of hillside soil and lower content of cattle manure, associated with an environment with 18 or 35% shading, provided high-quality seedlings.

ABSTRACT Paricá (Schizolobium amazonicum) can be used for rehabilitation of degraded lands, timber manufacturing markets. However, for its planting, high-quality seedlings should be used. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different types of paclobutrazol (PBZ) application and two shading levels on high-quality seedling production. As there was no replication of cultivation environments, we considered each one of them as an experiment. For each environment (35 and 50% shading screen), a completely randomized design was adopted, testing combinations of two types of PBZ application (direct seed immersion in 0.005% PBZ solution; substrate hydration with 0.005% PBZ solution; and 50% seed hydration and 50% substrate hydration; plus, a control), with five replications and five seedlings per plot. The environments were evaluated by analysis of groups of experiments. Seedling growth was evaluated. Under 50% shading, Paricá seedlings had better growth conditions. Application of 100% PBZ in substrate provided compact seedlings with larger dry root phytomass, besides being more practical.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate protected cultivation environments with different levels of shading and application of foliar chemical agents, on growth, photosynthetic pigments and seedling quality of Capsicum frutensens L. The experiment was developed at the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, University Unit of Cassilândia, with chili pepper. Three cultivation environments (screen of 18, 35 and 50% of shading) and six leaf chemical agents were used [(1) control – without application; (2) Nitrogen (N) 1%; (3) Paclobutrazol 50 mg L-1 + N 1%; (4) Auxin 0.05 g L-1 + N 1%; (5) Gibberellin 0.05 g L-1 + N 1%; and (6) Auxin 0.05 g L-1 + Gibberellin 0.05 g L-1 + N 1%]. Each environment was considered an experiment in which the completely randomized design was adopted and, afterwards, a joint analysis of the same was carried out. The growth and the biometric relations were evaluated. The leaf nitrogen application positively influences the growth and chlorophyll content of pepper seedlings; the application of nitrogen + growth regulator via foliar produces seedlings with higher growth and biometric relations in environments with 50% shading. For the production of seedlings with desirable morphological and physiological aspects, it is recommended to use a foliar application of paclobutrazol + nitrogen in an environment with 50% shading.

ABSTRACT The Achachairu (Garcinia humilis) is a Bolivian exotic fruit that has been produced and commercialized a few years in Brazil. Information about the production of high quality seedlings is essential for the implementation and the renewal of orchards. The objective was to evaluate protected environments and substrates for Achachairu seedlings. Two protected environments were evaluated, one covered with aluminized thermal reflector screen of 50% of shading and the other with Sombrite® of 50% of shading. Inside the protected environments were tested substrates derived from combinations of various proportions of cattle manure (CM), ravine soil (RS), medium vermiculite (MV), super fine vermiculite (FV) and sand (S). For each protected environment was adopted a completely randomized design with 5 replications of 5 seedlings. Protected environments were compared by analysis of groups of experiments. All substrates studied formed high quality seedlings for the implementation of Garcinia orchards, with low rates of aerial and root phytomasses, low rates between height and stem diameter, providing higher Dickson quality index. The Aluminet® promoted the best seedlings with larger shoot, root and total dry mass.

ABSTRACT The Brazilian copal is a tree fruit species that can be used for various purposes. The study evaluated protected environments and substrates in forming Brazilian copal seedlings (Hymenaea courbaril), at the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Cassilândia-MS, from January to March, 2014. Two greenhouses were used: (A1) agricultural greenhouse covered with aluminized thermal reflector screen of 50% shading and (A2) agricultural greenhouse covered with black screen of 50% shading. Inside the greenhouses, substrates derived from mixtures of cattle manure, soil, medium vermiculite, super fine vermiculite and washed fine sand were tested. For each cultivation environment, a completely randomized experimental design was used. The environments were compared by combined analysis. Emergence parameters, growth, phytomass and biometric relations were evaluated. The best seedlings were formed on the substrates containing 10 or 20% of cattle manure in the mix. Substrates containing 50% of cattle manure in the mixture did not favor the development of seedlings in the greenhouse with black screen. The best seedlings have been formed in the protected environment of aluminized screen coverage, with higher air and total phytomass, and Dickson quality index. Larger seedlings in height, with more leaves were formed in the protected environment with black screen coverage.

ABSTRACT The kale is a brassica, this vegetable presents importance on nutritional and economic patterns. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different substrates, trays and protected environment in the formation of kale seedlings. The experiment was conducted in two greenhouses located at the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul - MS. The first environment consisted of an agricultural greenhouse with polyethylene film cover, while the second was an agricultural nursery with monofilament screen and mesh to offer 50% of shading. In each protected environment were used 72 and 128 cells tray and six different compositions of substrates with organic material based on cassava branches (CB) and cattle manure (CM): 1) 100% CM; 2) 20% CM + 80% CB; 3) 40% CB + 60% CM; 4) 60% CB + 40% CM; 5) 80% CB + 20% and CM; 6) 100% CB. The seedlings were evaluated according to the parameters: dry mass of seedlings, stem diameter and plant height. The agricultural nursery was the most suitable for the formation of kale seedlings, with 72 cells tray and the substrate composed of organic matter with 20% of cassava branches and 80% of cattle manure.