This study focus on ecological aspects of flooding on five month old seedlings of Piptadenia gonoacantha, a Gallery forest species. Seedling growth rates were evaluated on three levels of sun light (100%, 70% and 40%) and two soil moisture conditions (field capacity and flooded). Flooding reduced aerial and root growth. There was no interaction between light intensity and flooding, except for foliar dry matter (60 days) and top/root ratio (20 days). Full sun light seedlings under flooding had 67% lower foliar dry matter production than shaded ones, after 60 days. Flooded seedlings in all three light levels, had hypertrophic lenticels on submerged stems, after 20 days. In additon, flooding induced root decomposition but no adventicious roots were observed. After 60 days of flooding, seedlings of P. gonoacantha presented 100 % survival and no significant injury on the top portion.
Gallery Forest; flooding tolerance; irradiance; Piptadenia gonoacantha
