Ecophysiological Strategies of <i>Cedrela fissilis</i> Vell. Seedlings under Conditions of Flooding and Light Availability

Abstract

Soil water availability and light are abiotic factors that may be plant stressors when they are subjected to unfavorable conditions and may limit their metabolism and trigger protection mechanisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate morphological and metabolic strategies in Cedrela fissilis seedlings that enable their survival and resilience when subjected to flooding and shading. The seedlings were cultivated under flooding for 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 days or received only rainwater (control: 120 mm distributed over 35 evaluation days with a daily maximum of 28 mm). Flooding treatments were conducted under 70%, 30%, and 0% shading. Cedrela fissilis seedlings presented plasticity in physiological and morphological responses to flooding and shading, which indicates that this species has the potential for survival in the evaluated environments. The seedlings were tolerant to flooding for up to 40 days, regardless of light availability, although 70% shading minimized the stressful effects of flooding. The formation of lenticels, adventitious roots, and the increased activity of antioxidant enzymes from the 20th day of flooding favored the resilience of photosynthetic metabolism.