This paper evaluates the shading effect on seedlings of "Louro Pirarucu" (Licaria canella (Meissn) Kosterm. - Lauraceae). The trial was set up in the nursery at Adolph Ducke forest reserve. The seeds were germinated in wooden boxes with washed sand as a substrate. After seed germination, the seedlings were transplanted to black polyethylene bags. Four levels of shading (0%, 30%, 50% and 70%) is analyzed. Shading treatments were obtained with plastic shade clothes of different meshes. The experimental design was the randomized blocks with split-plot. Shading levels were considered plots and period of harvesting as sub-plots. Evaluations of potted seedlings were done after 30, 60 and 90 days for the following parameters: height, leaf area, leaf area ratio, aerial dry weight and root dry weight. The results suggest that: a) potted seedlings grown under 50% of shade presented higher values of aerial weight and root weight than plants under full sunlight radiation; b) height, leaf area and leaf area ratio were not significantly influenced by shading treatments; c) higher values of height and root weight were observed after 90 days.
Shading; Licaria canella; Louro Pirarucu