Resumo A qualidade do porta-enxerto de nogueira-pecã com segurança genética, fitossanitária e com bom desenvolvimento vegetativo é de suma importância para o sucesso na formação do pomar. O porta-enxerto com vigoroso sistema radicular influencia no crescimento da muda. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento do porta-enxerto em função da poda de raiz e de diferentes recipientes para a produção de muda de nogueira-pecã em sistema orgânico. O experimento foi conduzido com o porta-enxerto da cultivar Barton, na área experimental da Embrapa Clima Temperado, Estação Experimental Cascata, nos anos de 2018, 2019 e 2020. Os porta-enxertos foram avaliadas em sacos plásticos, tubetes e diretamente no solo, associado ao manejo da poda de raiz. Avaliaram-se, após 280 e 480 dias do transplante: altura da parte área, comprimento do sistema radicular primário e secundário, diâmetro de caule, área foliar e massa seca da parte aérea e do sistema radicular, e secundárias, e o Índice de qualidade de mudas de Dickson. Verificou-se que o uso do saco plástico para a produção de porta-enxertos de nogueira-pecã enovela as raízes no final do recipiente. Os recipientes e a poda de raiz não afetam o diâmetro do caule, característica importante para a execução da enxertia. Os porta-enxertos de nogueira-pecã com sistema radicular não podado e cultivado em saco plástico desenvolvem maior raiz principal e parte aérea. A poda do sistema radicular da nogueira-pecã, em recipientes e no solo, promove o aumento do número de raízes principais, mas diminui o comprimento das raízes das mudas.

Abstract Quality pecan rootstocks that ensure genetic and phytosanitary safety, besides having good vegetative development, are extremely important to implant a successful orchard. Rootstocks with vigorous radicular systems affect plant growth. This study aimed at evaluating rootstock growth as the result of root pruning and the use of different containers to grow pecan rootstocks in an organic system. The experiment was conducted with “Barton” rootstocks in the experimental area at the Embrapa Clima Temperado in Pelotas, RS, Brazil, in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Rootstocks were evaluated in plastic bags and tubes and in the soil, associated with root pruning. Evaluation 280 and 480 days after transplant comprised the following: height of the aerial part, length of primary and secondary radicular systems, stem diameter, leaf area, dry mass of the aerial part, dry mass of the radicular system, dry mass of secondary roots and the Dickson Quality Index. The use of plastic bags to produce pecan rootstocks was found to coil roots at the bottom of the container. Neither containers nor root pruning affected stem diameter, an important parameter to carry out grafting. Pecan rootstocks with a non-pruned radicular system grown in plastic bags developed large main root and aerial part. Pruning of pecan radicular systems in containers and in the soil leads to increase in the number of main roots but decreases root length.

ABSTRACT Prohexadione calcium (P-Ca) has been reported to effectively control shoot growth in several pear cultivars, but with a few reports about its efficiency under the climatic conditions of southern Brazil. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate vegetative growth, production, and fruit quality of ‘Smith’ pear trees in response to the use of different rates of P-Ca in the climatic conditions of southern Brazil. The experiment was conducted during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons, in a 6-year-old ‘Smith’ pear orchard, trained to a central-leader system, with spacing of 1.5 × 4.8 m, grafted onto Pyrus calleryana Decne. Different P-Ca rates were applied (100, 200, 300, and 400 mg∙L–1) in different stages: first, in early spring for all treatments, and the others when shoot growth resumed (GR), but only for some treatments. Variables for vegetative growth, yield components and fruit quality at harvest and post-harvest were evaluated. The use of P-Ca was effective to control vegetative growth in both seasons, at different rates. Yield components were not affected by P-Ca applications in 2013/2014, except return bloom and return yield. In 2014/2015 season, P-Ca applications positively affected yield components, except average fruit weight and return bloom. P-Ca applications did not alter the qualitative attributes of the fruits of ‘Smith’ pear trees at harvest and after a period of cold storage. These results implicate P-Ca as a potential tool to manage vigor of ‘Smith’ pear trees in climatic conditions of southern Brazil.