This research aimed to evaluate the periods of interference of Commelina benghalensis in the initial growth of Coffea arabica seedlings under winter and summer conditions. Coffee seedlings, later followed by spiderwort seedlings, were transplanted into 70 L cement boxes, using soil as substrate. The control periods were: 0-15, 0-30, 0-45, 0-60, 075 and 0-90 days after coffee sowing, using 12 treatments arranged in a randomized block design, with four replications. At the end of each period, plant height characteristics were evaluated. The coffee plant characteristics most affected by spiderwort were the foliar area and dry biomass of the coffee seedling leaves, under summer conditions. Leaf number and stem dry biomass also suffered significant reductions under winter conditions. The critical periods of interference prevention were 15 to 88 and 22 to 38 days after coffee seedling sowing, under winter and summer conditions, respectively.
Coffea arabica; spiderwort; competition; development
