The Journal "Agriculture and Forestry"
Časopis "Poljoprivreda i šumarstvo"
- Since 1955 -
Year 2017, Volume 63 Issue 2 (30.06.2017)
| Year : | 2017 |
| Volume : | 63 |
| Issue : | 2 (30.06.2017) |
| Authors : | Danielle de Moraes LUCIO, Sebastiao Gilton DANTAS, Jessica Ritchele Moura dos SANTOS, Sidney Carlos PRAXEDES |
| Title : | Differences in water deficit adaptation during early growth of Brazilian dry forest Caatinga trees |
| Abstract : | Previous studies have shown that adaptation to drought in Brazilian Caatinga trees may involve different physiological and morphological strategies. Particular climatic and soil characteristics occur along this dry ecosystem leading to non-homogeneous water availability. Therefore, in certain niches, some species predominate over others, indicating that best performance of a species is not widespread. We studied changes in initial growth, which is the most critical factor during the life of a plant, of two common species of Caatinga (Erythrina velutina Willd. and Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong) with variable occurrence through the ecosystem. Young plants were subjected to three water regimes: 450 (control), 225 (moderate stress) and 112.5 mm (severe stress) of water spread over 40 days, which represent years with heavy, moderate and scarce rainfall, respectively. Analyses were performed at 20 and 40 days after the initiation of treatments. When compared to the control group, treatments with water restriction reduced the growth of shoots and roots, the number of leaves and leaflets, the total biomass and the leaf area more in E. velutina than in E. contortisiliquum. Taking into account the adaptation of both species in Caatinga, we present evidence of different drought tolerance strategies. The ecological importance of early changes in the growth of species is discussed in the paper. |
| For citation : | Lúcio D., Dantas G. S., Santos J. R. , Praxedes C. S., (2017) Differences in water deficit adaptation during early growth of Brazilian dry forest Caatinga trees, Agriculture and Forestry, 63 (2): 59-68. DOI: 10.17707/AgricultForest.63.2.05 |
| Keywords : | Arid environment, Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong, Erythrina velutina Willd., initial growth, water stress. |
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