In Brazil endive have shown increasing consumption as salad and contributes primarily with vitamins and minerals to the human diet. Although the increasing economic value there are a few studies about the crop. The experiments were realized in Ponta Grossa Paraná State, Brazil to avaluate the endive seedlings production from two cultivars in differents trays and the performance in field. Two planting dates were avaluated, being the first one sown in July, 20th and the second in September, 9th. Seedlings were obtained under protected cultivation, using an experimental design of randomized block with four replications being the treatments arranged in a factorial scheme 2x3, with the two endive cultivars, and three types of styrofoam trays (128 cells of 40 cm³ per cell, 200 cells of 16 cm³ and 288 cells of 12 cm³). The substrate used was Plantmax®. Seedlings were avaluated on the following characteristics at 36 and 34 days, in the first and second crop: height of aerial part, fresh and dry weight of roots and aerial part and root lenght. In the field experiments the design was of randomized blocks with four replications and six treatments:1) cultivar Crespa with seedlings obtained from trays of 128 cells; 2) cultivar Crespa with seedlings obtained from trays of 200 cells; 3) cultivar Crespa with seedlings obtained from trays of 288 cells; 4) cultivar Lisa with seedlings obtained from trays of 128 cells; 5) cultivar Lisa with seedlings obtained from trays of 200 cells; 6) cultivar Lisa with seedlings obtained from trays of 288 cells. The seedlings were transplanted at 36 and 34 days in the first and second crop, respectively, in plots with eight plants in each row arranged in 0,30x0,30 m. Harvesting was realized after 50 days of the transplanting date on the first crop and at 49 days on the second crop, it was avaluated the head diameter, height of aerial part, leaves number, fresh and dried weight of aerial part and roots. Considering the results obtained from two crops it was concluded that among trays types, the 128 cells was faster on upper part and root development, obtaining a seedling earlier and with quality. Seedlings from trays showed on field experiments stand of 100% and high uniformity on plant development. Seedlings from tray of 128 cells had the highest quality on the seedlings stage and its quality reflected on plant performance and the yield, obtaining a endive head with higher fresh weight. The both cultivars Crespa and Lisa showed similar behaviour on both experiment at the seedling stage and on the crop development.
Cichorium endivia L.; seedlings production; styrofoam trays
