EFFECT OF GIBBERELLIN ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF Spondias tuberosa SEEDLINGS

ABSTRACT The development of technologies will certainly contribute to boost the commercial exploitation and domestication of Spondias tuberosa. The objective of the present study was to identify morphophysiological effects of gibberellin on the growth of S. tuberosa seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Goiás State University, Brazil, using 300-day-old S. tuberosa seedlings planted in 12-liter pots containing soil (Typic Hapludox), sand, and manure (3:1:0.5). The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with five replications and six treatments consisting of single foliar applications of 30 mL plant-1 of solutions with different gibberellin (GA3) concentrations (0, 150, 300, 450, 600, and 750 mg L-1), using a manual sprayer. The plants were evaluated at 60 days after the applications. The maximum biomass accumulation in S. tuberosa seedlings was found with the use of 415 mg L-1 of GA3. The use of gibberellin accelerated the vegetative growth of S. tuberosa plants and enabled the formation of seedlings with better root system and xylopodium, and aerial parts with greater number of leaves, leaf area, and stem weight.