Abstract

FERNANDEZ, Manuel et al. Effect of Copper Coating Nursery Containers on Plant Growth and Root Morphology of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Cuttings and Seedlings. Silva Lus. [online]. 2007, vol.15, n.2, pp.215-227. ISSN 0870-6352.

Plant production in rigid plastic containers is operationally advantageous in nursery eucalyptus production, but root morphology differs from those grown under natural conditions. Root systems deformations resulting from nursery culture can affect post-planting growth performance and mechanical stability, being instability of eucalypts a major problem. Therefore, in order to improve post-planting response of Eucalyptus globulus Labill., we tested the effect of chemical root pruning with CuCO₃xCu(OH)₂ on root architecture and plant growth at the nursery and in the field. The concentration of 25 g/L applied to the interior walls of the containers could be suitable for chemical root pruning in cuttings and seedlings. At the end of the nursery growth period, the root morphology of copper-treated plants differed significantly from the untreated ones, but differences in root or shoot dry weights were not significant. In the field, copper-treated plants performed no better than untreated plants four years after planting, and the differences in root morphology observed in the nursery did not affect plant survival or growth. Therefore, these results do not recommend the use of chemical root pruning with copper in order to improve stability of E. globulus, at least for the first four years after outplanting.

Keywords : chemical root-pruning; copper carbonate; out-planting response.

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