This work was carried out to evaluate the effects of concentrations of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and giberellic acid (GA3) on the development of 'Volkameriano' lemon plants cultivated in recipients. The experiment was arranged in a 4 X 2 factorial scheme, with four concentrations of PBZ (0, 75, 150 and 225 mg of i.a. plant-1) and two concentrations of GA3 (0 and 20 mg of i.a. L-1), in a randomized block design with four repetitions and 5 plants per experimental unit. Increasing PBZ concentrations reduced the length and stem diameter, length of the internodes and leaf area. They increased the specific leaf mass and the SPAD units. The GA3 reversed the action of PBZ. The application of increasing concentrations of PBZ, in the presence of GA3, increased the stem diameter to the maximum value of 0,973 cm that was reached with the estimated PBZ concentration of 90.0 mg plant-1. The leaves number was not influenced by PBZ concentrations, while GA3, in the absence of PBZ, increased the leaves number in 10% and reduced the stem length in 17.93%.
Citrus volkameriana; citrus rootstocks; plant growth retardants
