Aspectos fisiológicos do nim indiano sob déficit hídrico em condições de casa de vegetação

Abstract

The work was performed aiming to evaluate the effect of water deficit on growth of neem seedlings and water relations. The experimental design was entirely randomized, with seven treatments (100, 80, 60, 40, 20% of pot capacity, without water and re-watering). The height, number of leaves and stem diameter were analyzed weekly. At the end of the experiment, dry matter of the leaves,shoots, roots, root to shoot ratio and biomass allocation were determined. Leaf area, leaf area ratio and specific leaf area were also calculated. Leaf water potential (predawn and noon), relative water content and contents of compatible solutes were evaluated at the same day. Water stress reduced the height, number of leaves and shoot diameter in the plants of the severe treatments. Water stress reduced leaf, stem and root dry matter. Biomass allocation was sufficient to reduce only in case of leaves. Leaf area was also reduced; however, there were no significant differences in leaf area ratio and specific leaf area. The recovery of the re-watering plants was evident by emitting new leaves. Leaf water potential was reduced by the water deficit in the treatments with 20% of pot capacity and without. The same behavior was verified for the relative water content. On the re-watering plants, though was verified rehabilitation of plants but at the end of experiment, these plants showed reductions in the leaf water potential and relative water content. Carbohydrates, proteins and proline contents increased with the water deficit. This elevation was possible because of reduction in relative water content. The results indicate that neem seedlings reduced leaf water potential because of the reduction on the relative water content and this specie can be cultivated, at the initial phase of development, under 80% of pot capacity, with highest production.