Resprouting ability and intensity after damage in seedlings of the large-seeded species Araucaria angustifolia

Abstract

The role of seed reserves on the ability to resprout and on the responses of resprouting in Araucaria angustifoliawas investigated. Seedlings were separated into three groups: plants which had their shoot damaged, a similar group in which damaged plants had their connection to the supporting seed removed, and a control group. All damaged seedlings resprouted, but those which remained connected to their seeds had a greater mass of resprouted shoots than the ones disconnected from their seeds. A greater accumulation of seed mass in the underground hypocotyl was a very distinct initial response to damage, but, on the long run, damaged plants were able to reestablish a biomass allocation pattern, which was very similar to the control plants. These results indicate that seed and underground reserves are important for the quantitative resprouting response of seedlings of Aangustifolia and for its ability to reestablish the functional balance when severely damaged.