Effect of flooding on survival and initial growth of Ocotea pulchella (Nees) Mez. seedlings in semi-controlled light conditionsTaking into account the occurrence of Ocotea pulchella in areas subjected to periodic flooding, this work aimed to evaluate the survival and initial development of Ocotea pulchella seedlings (2 months old) and juveniles (9 months old) in response to waterlogging under different light regimes by varying both light quantity and light quality, in order to test for possible flood tolerance of the species as affected by light conditions. Three levels of soil moisture (field capacity, mean flooding - only for seedlings - and full flooding) and four light treatments (full sun, neutral shade, far red enriched shading and neutral plus far red) were tested. The survival of seedlings and juveniles during one year was relatively high, whereas growth was negatively affected by full sun and flooding. Seedling growth was inhibited by soil waterlogging whatever the light condition, whereas plant growth at field capacity and mean fl ooding was similar. Flooding also inhibited the growth of juveniles, and that response was practically not affected by the light regimes. The results suggest that Ocotea pulchella seedlings can survive in the understory, even in areas subject to fl ooding, forming a slow-growth seedling bank. The species seems to tolerate relatively long-term soil waterlogging when kept out of direct sunlight. Otherwise, responses of waterlogged plants to shading seem to be aff ected by irradiance and light quality.
Restinga forest; juveniles; waterlogging; development
