Substrate and quality mangosteen seedlings

Abstract An obstacle to the production of mangosteen seedlings (Garcinia mangostana L.) is the long nursery time of approximately two years. Among other factors, the identification of a suitable substrate for seedling production from this species is a preponderant factor to reduce nursery time. This study aimed to evaluate the growth of seminal mangosteen seedlings grown in four different substrate compositions. Growth rate was determined using the following variables: stem diameter, plant height, stem dry mass, leaf dry mass, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, total dry mass and Dickson Quality Index (DQI). The substrate S1 (sphagnum turf and vermiculite) was superior to substrates S2 (pinus bark and vermiculite), S3 (pinus bark and coconut fiber) and S4 (soil) in all evaluated parameters. The principal component analysis separated the treatments into three response groups, in which S1 exerted the greatest influence on the growth variables, concluding that this one of the substrates tested was the most adequate for the formation of mangosteen seedlings.