Use of physiological parameters to assess seedlings quality of Eugenia dysenterica DC. grown in different substrates

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and photosynthetic metabolism of Eugenia dysenterica DC. seedlings grown in different substrates. The seed were sown in the following substrates: MecPlant® (MP), rice husks (RH), subsoil (SB), fine vermiculite (FV), coarse sand (CS), tanned cattle manure (CM), decomposed corn silage (CS), and soil collected from around parent plants (SN). The volume-based substrates were formulated as follows: MP+RH (7:3), SB+FV+RH (1:2:2), SB+FV+RH (1:1:1), SB+FV+CS (1:3:6) SB+CS+CM (2:2:1), and SN. After 127 days, the seedlings were evaluated according to their emergence and vigor, biometric characteristics, leaf area (cm2), Dickson Quality Index (DQI), stomata conductance (mol m-2 s-1), transpiration rate (mmol m-2 s-1), photosynthesis (μmol m-2 s-1) and leaf mineral nutrient levels. Overall, the SB+CS+CM substrate resulted in higher values for all of the characteristics analyzed, except for the leaf nutrient levels. However, in total, this substrate also resulted in high content of minerals in plant. Likewise, the SB+FV+CS substrate showed the second higher content of nutrients. Based on the results of this study, we concluded that tanned cattle manure and decomposed corn silage resulted in the best Eugenia dysenterica seedling quality.