The camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia (H. B. K.) McVaugh, Myrtaceae) is a native Amazonian species of river and lake margins that is being domesticated for cultivation on the "terra firme". Its economic potential is its high ascorbic acid content, with 2,950 mg/of vit. C/ 100 g of pulp. Standards for production of certified seedlings are vague. The present study investigated the development of seedlings obtained from different size seeds and transplanted to different size bags. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with a 3x4 factorial, with four replications. The factors were: three sizes of seeds (small, medium and large, weighing 19, 37 and 67 g/100 seeds, respectively) and four sizes of bags (12x23, 16x28, 19x21 and 20,5x33 cm, with 750, 1500, 1750 and 3500 g, respectively). The seedlings from large and medium size seeds grew faster (height 53 and 46 cm, respectively) and those grown in the 19x21 cm bags showed a tendency of faster growth (height 49 cm) during all stages up to five months. Field ready seedlings of camu-camu can be obtained after 60 to 70 days when large and medium size seeds and 19x21 cm bags are used.
Seedling production; substrate volume; development