Adaptive strategies in young Inga vera subsp. affinis plants under flooding

Inga vera subsp. affinis (DC.) T.D.Penn. is a common species in riparian vegetation of the Atlantic Forest within the Upper Paraná River Floodplain (UPRF) and of great ecological importance in the restoration of native forests. Since UPRF environments are subject to periodic flooding, this study aimed to analyze the adaptive strategies of I. vera subsp. affinis under flooding. I. vera fruits were collected from riparian mother trees to obtain seedlings, which were subjected to flooding for 44 days. After the experiment, 10 individuals from each treatment were selected, and their height, root length, leaf area, number of leaves, and the fresh and dry mass of leaves, stems, and roots were measured. Physiological traits were evaluated from the extraction and quantification of soluble sugars in leaves and roots, as well as the quantification of photosynthetic pigments in the leaves of seedlings. Results were subjected to analysis of variance according to their respective assumptions. I. vera plants showed reduced growth under flooding, lower levels of photosynthetic pigments, and increased production of soluble sugars, which were relocated to the roots. These findings indicate the species' capacity for physiological adjustment to floods, which can support conservation strategies for riparian tree species in relation to climate change and adaptations of the species itself over time.