Both Setaria anceps (setária) and Paspalum paniculatum (paspalo) species are tolerant to soil drought water deficiency and flooding. The aim of this work was evaluate anatomical, ecophysiological and metabolic alterations on setária and paspalo leaves and roots when submitted to soil water deficit conditions. Eleven days after the beginning of water restriction, few variations were observed in density and size of stomata in setária, but there was decreasing in thickness of mesophyll, vascular bundle, root cortex and transpiration rate. Protein (P), total soluble sugars (AST), reducing sugars (AR) and starch content decreased in leaves and AST and starch content decrease in roots. In paspalo, varations on density and size of the stomatal cells, reduction of the metaxylem diameter and root cortex, increasing of bulliform cells size, leaf concentration of amino acid, AST, AR, and starch were observed.
drought; ecophysiology; paspalo; setaria
