The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of three containers and three environments of cropping on the development of papaya seedlings (Carica papaya L.) Cv. Sunrise Solo, at the tropical climate of São Luis Island, State of Maranhão, Brazil. The used containers were black polyethylene bags of 20 x 32 cm and 15 x 20 cm and polystyrene trays of 72 cells and as environment conditions were used plastic house, black-screen house of 50% sunlight and open sky. The data taken and evaluated were plant height, diameter of stem, and leaf number. In the period of June 14th to July 21st 2004 were monitored precipitation, temperature and relative humidity, using psycrhometers of natural ventilation. According to the results, it was concluded that the seedlings of papaya produced in the polyethylene bag 20 x 32 cm promotes superior performance in all analyzed characters; the polystyrene tray revealed inadequate for the production of papaya seedlings; over 45 days after sowing, the open sky environment, showed more satisfactory conditions to the seedlings development; past 60-days from sowing, the seedlings produced under the black-screen presented a thin and yellowish growing.
Carica papaya L.; propagation; biometry; growth
