Abstract
The objective of this work was to assess the effect of successive selection cycles on leaf plasticity of 'Saracura' maize BRS-4154 under periodical flooding in field conditions. Soil flooding started at the six-leaf stage with the application of a 20-cm depth water layer three times a week. At flowering, samples of leaves were collected and fixed. Paradermic and transverse sections were observed under photonic microscope. Several changes were observed throughout the selection cycles, such as modifications in the number and size of the stomata, higher amount of vascular bundles and the resulting decrease of the distance between them, smaller diameter of the metaxylem, decrease of cuticle and epidermis thickness, decrease of number and size of bulliform cells, increase of phloem thickness, smaller sclerenchyma area. Therefore, the successive selection cycles of 'Saracura' maize resulted in changes in the leaf anatomy, which might be favorable to the plant's tolerance to the intermittent flooding of the soil.
Highlights
The excess of water in the soil can lead to dramatic consequences in the process of gas diffusion
Evidences of leaf plasticity are more known in completely flooded plants
The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of successive selection cycles on leaf plasticity of 'Saracura' maize under periodical flooding in field conditions
Summary
The excess of water in the soil can lead to dramatic consequences in the process of gas diffusion. The tricarboxylic acid cycle is interrupted due to the absence of reducing power, and the anaerobic metabolism is activated (Sairam et al, 2008). This situation can be found in flooded soils. More attention has been directed to the adaptative mechanisms of roots rather than to that of leaves (Bragina et al, 2004). Up to this moment, few studies have shown leaf modifications due to root flooding.
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