ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth and recommend the best one (s) of four lettuce cultivars in Southern Piaui. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with a randomized block design, with split-plot in time evaluation (20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40 days after sowing - DAS), and the corresponding treatments to four cultivars (Americana Rafaela(r), Grand Rapids TBR(r), Crespa Repolhuda(r) and Repolhuda todo ano(r)) with five replications. We evaluated leaf area; leaf number; stem diameter; shoot fresh mass; shoot, root and total dry mass and physiological indexes of growth analysis. The cultivars showed significant effect in the studied parameters. Under the submitted conditions, the Americana Rafaela(r) and Repolhuda todo ano(r) lettuce cultivars showed better performance and greater morphological and physiological indexes. The cultivars Americana Rafaela(r) and Repolhuda todo ano(r) can be grown under Southern Piaui conditions.
Key words:
greenery; physiological indexes; Lactuca sativa L