The aim of this research was to evaluate the growth and yield of Anthurium andraeanum 'Apalai' submitted to different defoliation intensities in Vale do Ribeira, SP. In order to develop this research, micropropagated seedlings of this species were used, planted in beds built under a roof covered with a black nylon screen, with a mesh that provides 70% shading, spaced 0.40x0.40m apart. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design in split splot with sixteen replicates.The defoliation effect was evaluated in the whole plots and the effect of time after defoliation was evaluated in the split-plots. The different defoliation intensities consisted of plants with three, four and five leaves and plants without defoliation, and the time after defoliation. Assessments were conducted in 2006 and 2007. There was an increase in the area of individual leaves in plants maintained with four and five leaves, proportional to the defoliation intensity, which may be related to an attempt to offset the lost leaf area. Defoliation caused by the maintenance of three, four or five leaves in anthurium 'Apalai' plants is detrimental to their growth and production.
Anthurium andraeanum; leaf pruning; leaf area; management practice
