The genus Eucalyptus is important in commercial forest plantations due to its rapid growth and ability to adapt to Brazilian climatic conditions. Among the most important stages for production of eucalyptus seedlings, through vegetative propagation, rooting is highlighted due to its requirements for water, nutrients and management which may compromise the quality of seedlings growing demand in Brazilian silviculture. This study aimed to determine the thermal sum to the rooting of clonal cuttings of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla) and generate equations to estimate the biomass accumulation in the same stage of production, based on the concept of degree-days (thermal time). The study was conducted in an acclimatized greenhouse in the Seedling Nursery of the Department of Forestry, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. At the start of rooting, the mean fresh weight of seedlings was 0.76 ± 0.17 g and the dry biomass was 0.17 ± 0.04 g. At the end of rooting, the means of fresh and dry biomass of seedlings were 1.49 ± 0.43 g and 0.21 ± 0.06 g, respectively. For rooting of eucalyptus seedlings 316.42 degree-days were necessary.
forestry; thermal time; greenhouse
