Effect of shading screens on growth and protection of Toona ciliata seedlings under low temperatures

Abstract

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the influence of different shading screens layers on the growth and protection of Toona ciliata seedlings in periods of frost susceptibility. The research was conducted on the Santa Maria Federal University, Frederico Westphalen Campus, RS. For the experiment, Toona ciliata seedlings maintained in plastic bags with three liters of capacity each were submitted to four treatments: unprotected seedlings, seedlings under protection with a single shading layer, double and triple. The experimental design was the completely randomized, with four repetitions of eight seedlings each. It was evaluated the number of seedlings with necrosed apical leaves, the aerial part height, the lap diameter and the dry mass of root, aerial and total. By such variables, it was possible to determine the Produtivity Index, the Dickson Quality Index and the relations height/diameter and height/dry mass of aerial part. The use of shading screens showed up efficient to protect the seedlings against the adverse effect of frost. The use of a single layer of shading resulted in a greater protection and consequently provided the best dendrometric characteristics, compared to the others levels of shading.

Keywords: Screen protection; tolerance to frost; Australian cedar.