Flooding tolerance of Calophyllum brasiliense Camb. (Clusiaceae): morphological, physiological and growth responses

Abstract

Calophyllum brasiliense Camb. (Clusiaceae) is a tree of swampy areas of the coastal ''Restinga'' in southeastern Brazil (a coastal sand-plain scrub and forest formation). To elucidate possible adaptive strategies that enable this species to occupy areas subjected to seasonal or perennial waterlogging, growth characters such as shoot height, biomass production, leaf expansion, new leaf development, stem diameter, carbon dioxide assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll concentration and fluorescence were studied in controls and plants flooded for up to 150 days. Although flooded plants kept incorporating carbon all through the experiment, their assimilation rate and growth rate were lower than control, non-flooded plants. Injuries such as leaf senescence and abscision were not observed but some flooded plants showed signs of leaf chlorosis. In view of its capacity to maintain carbon assimilation and growth during the treatment, C. brasiliense can be classified as flood-tolerant tree. Flooding induced hypertrophy of lenticels, increased stem diameter and development of adventitious roots. These characteristics of C. brasiliense are most probably responsible for its survival and success in naturally seasonally flooded areas, inhospitable environments for most tree species. Reduction in total chlorophyll concentration was probably the main cause of reduced carbon dioxide assimilation rate. Based on the results we recommend C. brasiliense for rehabilitation of native vegetation in flood-prone areas.

Initial growth of Campomanesia adamantium (Cambess.) O. Berg. seedlings on substrates with different compositions and water retention capacities

“…The quantity of water stored and available to plants varies according to substrate texture and other physical characteristics, and plants will demonstrate different morphophysiological responses accordingly (KIEHL, 1979;MEDRI, 2002;SCALON and JEROMINI, 2013). Oliveira and Joly (2010) and Chaves et al (2002) emphasized that the effects of water deficits on different plant species depend on deficit intensity and duration and on the genetic capacity of the plants to respond to environment changes. Waterstressed plants initially demonstrate turgidity losses, decreased growth, and reduced synthesis of abscisic acid (ABA), leading to the closing of their stomata and eventual leaf abscission (LARCHER, 2006).…”

“…Saturated soils show reduced oxygen levels, provoking anaerobic respiration in the roots and eventually the death of root cells due to acidosis. The consequences of anaerobic conditions include reduced root growth and poor water and nutrient absorption (FLOSS, 2008;OLIVEIRA and JOLY, 2010).…”

Técnicas para superação da dormência de sementes de guanandi

“…O guanandi (Calophyllum brasiliense Cambessedes) é uma espécie nativa do Brasil com ocorrência desde a região Amazônica até o norte de Santa Catarina. Trata-se de planta com alto potencial madeireiro e com boa possibilidade de cultivo, especialmente em áreas úmidas, com moderado excesso de água, próximas a cursos de água (Oliveira & Joly, 2010;Schultz, 2011). A espécie também tem importância farmacêutica, por possibilitar a extração de metabólitos derivados de xantonas, cumarinas, flavonoides e terpenos, que têm ação antibacteriana, moluscicida, anti-hipertensiva e atividade contra imunodeficiência humana (HIV-1) (Noldin et al, 2006;Braga et al, 2007;Bernabé-Antonio et al, 2010;Carvalho et al, 2013).…”

Florestas de restinga e de terras baixas na planície costeira do sudeste do Brasil: vegetação e heterogeneidade ambiental

“…Conforme a região considerada, pode haver sedimentação eólica direta nas baixadas litorâneas mais próximas do mar, ou sedimentação eólica juntamente com sedimentação coluvial nas Terras Baixas (Corrêa et al 2008). Quanto às perturbações (e ainda considerando os solos), na Restinga pode haver inundações periódicas com água doce ou salobra, que exercem forte papel seletivo, pois poucas espécies arbóreas sobrevivem à saturação hídrica do solo (Oliveira & Joly 2010). Nas Terras Baixas os deslizamentos da encosta representam mais um mecanismo de formação de clareiras, favorecendo o estabelecimento e a persistência de espécies que dependem destas para germinar (Denslow 1987), o que pode resultar em um aumento da diversidade.…”