Variation in tolerance and metabolic responses to flooding in some tropical trees

• Published in: Journal of experimental botany Vol. 33; no. 135; pp. 799 - 809
• Main Authors: Joly, C.A, Crawford, R.M.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 01-08-1982; Clarendon Press
• Subjects: Anaerobiosis; Cerrado; Dry forests; Ethanol; Floods; Lactates; plant biochemistry; plant physiology; Plant roots; Plants; Root systems; Trees
• ISSN: 0022-0957; 1460-2431
• DOI: 10.1093/jxb/33.4.799

The effect of flooding on aerobic and anaerobic respiration as well as on the internal levels of ethanol, lactic, succinic and malic acids were compared in three flood-tolerant and two non-flood-tolerant species. In the non-flood-tolerant species Kielmeyera coriacea and Pseudobombax marginatum, which come from the ‘ cerrado’ vegetation, there was a uniformity of response with ethanol being the only one of the above products to accumulate substantially during flooding. In the flood-tolerant species, Sebastiana klotzchyana, Hymenaea courbaril var. stilbocarpa and Chorisia speciosa, flooding induced a variety of responses which indicate that the tolerant species have evolved differing strategies to overcome flooding stress.