The species Solanum americanum (mary-nightshade) is considered a weed whose highly competitive ability and aggressiveness reduce crop productivity. This work was conducted under greenhouse conditions aiming to analyze the growth and partitioning of assimilates in mary-nightshade plants subjected to three levels of shading. The plants were collected at regular intervals of seven days after transplantation until the end of the cycle, with dry mass and leaf area being determined. Based on primary data , growth analysis was carried out to calculate total dry matter production (Wt), dry matter production rates (Ct), relative growth (R-w), net assimilation (Ea), leaf area index (L), relative growth of leaf area and ratios of leaf area (Fa) and leaf mass (Fw), specific leaf area (Sa) and dry matter partitioning between organs. Mary-nightshade plants showed a better growth and development under intermediate light conditions (35% shade), reaching higher Wt, Ct, L, Fa, stem dry matter, fruit dry matter and number of fruit. Full light and reduction of light at a more accentuated level had a negative effect on growth and development, a fact that may influence the competitive ability of these plants.
Solanum americanum; leaf area; dry matter; growth rates
