The objective of this work was to evaluate the initial growth of sapling of Theobroma grandiflorum (cupuaçú), in function of different levels of solar radiation. Fifty days, after the emergency, the saplings were submitted to three levels of shade, being: 0%, 50% and natural shade. Sapling development was carried out in randomized block design with 15 repetitions (15 saplings). The sapling height, lap diameter and the numbers of leaves being evaluated on the 60st, 82nd, 103rd, 124th, 145 days after sapling emergence. The Dry Mass of the leaves (DML), Dry Mass of the stem (DMS), Dry Mass of the root (DMR) and Dry mass of the plant (DMP), Relation shoot/root (PA/R) and relation plant height/Lap diameter, were measured at the end of the experiment, when the sapling reached the appropriate size to be planted in the field. The initial growth of Theobroma grandiflorum was corroborated with the species standard that occurs inside of the primary bushes, so its development of the parameters evaluated is better in conditions of 50% of shade. The condition of 50% of shade can be recommended for the formation of plants of Theobroma grandiflorum, which had the better performance in plant height, lap diameter, number and allocation of mass in the parts of the plant.
Level of radiation; Adaptation; Initial development; Allocation of biomass
