To elucidate certain aspects of hypoxia tolerance in Cecropia pachystachya, plants were submitted to 30 days of flooding. Growth and development, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rates and morpho-anatomy were studied. Root and stem relative growth rates (RGR) were lower in flooded plants. There was no difference in leaf RGR and whole plant RGR. The maintenance of leaf RGR is possibly related to greater sclerophylly in flooded plants. Stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate decreased due to flooding. Stems and roots, especially the latter, showed morpho-anatomical alterations in flooded plants. The results so far suggest that flood tolerance in C. pachystachya is related to the capacity to maintain satisfactory energy production. The maintenance of a positive energy balance allows this species to maintain a substantial RGR, even under stress with a lower photosynthetic rate. Therefore C. pachystachya may be a strong competitor in flooded areas.
Cecropia pachystachya; ecological anatomy; flooding; photosynthesis; RGR
