The objective of the present work was to analyze growth of jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril L.) seedlings under water deficit. Seedlings were grown in in vases with 8 kg of soil from the same place where the seeds were collected. Randomized blocks were used as experimental design, with four water treatments (100%, 75%, 50% and 25% of the field capacity) and six replicates. Plant height, number of leaves and stem diameter were evaluated weekly. At the end of the experimental period, leaf area and specific leaf area ratio, dry matter production of leaves, stem, root and total dry matter production and the biomass allocation for leaves, stem and roots were determined. Water deficit affected plant growth regarded to height, stem diameter and dry matter production for several organs, when grown at levels from 50% of the field capacity. The number of leaves decreased at all stress levels when compared to 100% of field capacity treatment. But, the pattern of biomass allocation, root: aerial section ratio, leaf area ratio and specific leaf area were not affected by the stress. The number of leaves was the most sensitive variable to stress. Jatoba seedlings do not paralyze their growth when grown in soil with low water availability in their initial development stage. However, its growth is severely affected by water level below 50% of water retention capacity in the soil.
Growth; Dry matter; Root
