Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang. is a clímax shadow tolerant specie and Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong., by the other hand, is considered as a pioneer specie. The development of these species may reflect its adaptation ability to different environmental elements (light, water and temperature) at its growth site. An inadequate supply of some of these elements may reduce plant vigor and limit its development. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of shade intensity on the growth and photosynthetic pigment concentration of two arboreal legumes that are typical to northern Brazil, namely, the Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang. and the Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong. The experiment was carried out at the Centro Universitário Luterano de Ji-Paraná (CEULJ/ULBRA)/Rondônia. During the formation of the seedlings, both species were exposed to four treatments of shade: 0 % (control - without shade); 30 %; 50 % e 80 %. Each treatment was carried out with three replications for each species; the experimental design was completely randomized. Four month after sowing, the following analyses were carried out: number of leaves, plant height, roots length, dry mass and photosynthetic pigment concentration. The treatment under 0% shade impaired the seedling growth of both species. The most favorable treatments were 50 % and 80 % shade. According to the shade intensity, the chlorophyll a/b ratio decreased and the chlorophyll and carotenoids increased.
Hymenaea courbaril; Enterolobium contortisiliquum; shading; growth; photosynthetic pigments
