Fenophases and morphological characters of hogplum clones grown in the Apodi Pateau, Ceará, Brazil.

Abstract

Morphological and fenophase knowledge of any plant is a key aspect toward technological innovations of any agro system. Based on that, plants of hogplum clones were characterized according to their morphological and fenophase. The orchard was established at the plateau of Apodi located in the town of Limoeiro do Norte, Ceará (CE) state, Brazil. Plots were laid out in a complete randomized block design as a factorial (5 plant scion x 2 rootstock), with four replications with four plants for plot. Different scions were obtained from productive adult plants in Capuan village, Caucaia,CE; Curimatã village Pacajus,CE; Gereau village and Ladeira Grande, both in Maranguape, CE and Lagoa Redonda, Fortaleza, CE. Seeds to produce rootstocks were obtained from hogplum and umbu (Spondias tuberosa). At the vegetative stage, very conspicuous buds develop and at the abscission zones produce leaf scars that coalesced with the secondary stem growth. Stem part located between two groups of scars correspond to a station of growth. Discrete lenticels are formed in the stems. As the branch becomes old a coarse shell is formed which is a morphological characteristic of juvenile stage. The clones formed vigorous plants, with different phenotypic and morphological aspects for each scion-rootstock combination; the rootstock and its scion did not alter both the growth standard of the main stem and the tendency of the plants in form monopodial canopy. The formation of sympodial canopy requires shaping pruning. The clones have different fenophases: vegetative dormancy (July to October); reproductive and vegetative organs shoot (November to February) and growth of shoots both fruiting and vegetative (February to June).