This study aimed to evaluate the tolerance of four Brachiaria species (B. decumbens,B. brizantha, B. humidicola and B. mutica) to flooding with regard to their morphogenetical, physiological and production characteristics. The experimental treatments resulted from a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement of four Brachiaria species and three flooding conditions (water field capacity, 1 and 10 cm water lamina above the soil surface) distributed in a completely randomized block design, with three replications. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse, in PVC column pot 60 cm high and 30 cm in diameter. The flooding was imposed during 18 days from the 22nd days of regrowth, after uniformization clipping. Small holes made 1 and 10 cm above soil level allowed to control the desired water lamina level in the pots. Flooding hindered leaf blade elongation rate and increased leaf blade senescence rate, regardless of species. Stomatal control of gas exchanges was observed in all species. Flooding reduced the photosynthesis rate in all species, except B. mutica, which out-yielded the others species under the 10 cm water level. Flooding significantly reduced the area and weight of green leaf blade, except in B. mutica which showed only a slight decrease tendency. The numerous adventitious roots of B. mutica would have played an important role in its tolerance to flooding.
biomass; morphogenetical indices; photosynthesis rate; stomatal conductance
