Evaluation of flooding tolerance in seeds of Cerrado's tree species

Abstract

Comprising circa 22% of the national territory (2 million Km²), the Cerrado is comprised by a mosaic of plant formations that differ not only in size and morphology, but also in their physiological responses to adverse environmental conditions. Factors related to the distribution of the phytophysiognomies of this biome have been studied, and the physical-chemical and hydrological properties of the soil are especially important. In transitional areas between forests and savannas, where the water table is superficial and the soil is flooded, wet grasslands occur. Probably the flooding is of fundamental importance for the maintenance and equilibrium of herbaceous-shrub communities, characteristic of these environments, directly interfering in the successional processes of woody species coming from adjacent vegetation. Aiming to contribute to this debate, this study intends to evaluate the effect of flooding on the germination and viability of seeds of 12 Cerrado tree species, typical of gallery forests or savannas, collected in the Assis State Forest, São Paulo state, Brazil. Based on this information, it will be possible to collaborate for future studies on the mechanisms of plant distribution in the Cerrado and draw attention to the conservation of its biological and hydrologic resources. (AU)