Endive (Cichorium endivia L.) production has increased in Brazil, where it is currently considered an important vegetable, being consumed mainly as salad. However, the studies about this crop are scarce. This work aimed to avaluate the effects of tray types and age of seedlings at transplanting on endive yield. Seedlings were produced under protected cultivation, with the cultivar AF-254 (SAKATA). The experimental design used was a randomized blocks, with four replications, and the treatments arranged in a factorial scheme 4x3, being four seedlings age at transplanting (25, 30, 35 and 42 days after sowing) and three tray types (with 128, 200 and 288 cells). The substrate used was Plantmax®. Seeds were sowed between the period of March, 11th to March, 28th, in 2005, with the intervals of seven days from the first to second sowing, and five days from each other. The seedlings were tranplanted in May, 23th, in plots with three rows and plants arranged in 0,30x0,30m. Plants were harvested as they reached maturation. Seedlings produced on tray of 128 cells were superior, independent of the age. The highest difference was observed when trays with 128 and 288 cells were compared. The highest point of seedlings development was observed between 30 and 40 days on the three tray types. The best option for endive production was obtained from seedlings produced on tray of 128 cells and with ages of 30 and 35 days. The high yield obtained with the seedlings from 128 trays repay the cost on seedlings production.
Cichorium endivia; polyestyrene trays; seedlings age; seedlings production
