Cupania vernalis Camb. is an arboreal species belonging to the sapindaceae family, known popularly as "Camboatá", "Camboatã". This species has great economical importance by its use in mixed plantings trying to recovery permanent degraded and preservation areas. This study aimed, basically, at characterizing the ecophysiological aspects of this species under nursery conditions. The effect of four levels of irradiance (Full sunshine, 30%, 50% and 70% of shading) on the gas exchange, concentration of nitrogen; leaf chlorophylls and initial growth of young plants of Cupania vernalis was evaluated. The results showed that the plants submitted to 50% of shading have accumulated more leaf, stem dry matter and total as compared to that cultivated under full sunshine. No difference was found in relation to root dry matter. Higher photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance on leaves were observed in the plants grown under full sunshine and 30% of shading. Plants under more shaded conditions presented higher contents of chlorophyll and nitrogen in leaves, a similar fact took place with the other characteristics such as height, stem diameter and leaf area. These latter characteristics determine seedling quality. It was concluded that the seedlings of that species should be grown in the nursery under conditions of 50 or 70% shading in order to improve seedling quality.
camboatá; dry mass; chlorophyll; radiation; photosynthesis
