PROTECTED CULTIVATION AND WATER SALINITY IN THE FORMATION OF Erythrina velutina Willd SEEDLINGS

Protected cultivation can reduce the harmful effects of salt stress on the development of plant species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and morphophysiological responses of E. velutina seedlings grown under saline stress in two growing environments. The experiment was conducted in an experimental area belonging to the Federal University of Cear & aacute;, in Fortaleza, Cear & aacute;. The experimental design was entirely randomized in subdivided plots, where the plots were represented by the growing environments (closed-screen greenhouse- CSG and open-sided greenhouse chapel- OSG), the subplots by the irrigation waters (0.8 and 5.0 dS m-1) and in the subplots the collection seasons (20, 40, 60 and 80 DAS), with four replications. Saline stress inhibited the growth of E. velutina seedlings in terms of height, leaf area, number of leaves and dry mass of the aerial part, but provided greater root dry mass throughout the growing season. It also affected gas exchange after 50 days of cultivation. The seedlings grown in the open shade environment on the sides and with lower salinity water had a higher Dickson quality index.