Comparison of the responses to flooding of seedlings and cuttings of Gmelina

The effects of flooding on Gmelina arborea Roxb. seedlings and cuttings of the same parent stock were compared to determine their suitability as transplanting stock. Flooding caused reductions in stomatal conductance, xylem pressure potential and dry matter accumulation in both groups of plants. In seedlings, flooding induced formation of hypertrophied lenticels, stem hypertrophy and production of short, thick, adventitious roots in seedlings, whereas in cuttings, only thin roots and numerous smaller lenticels were induced. For 8 days after the flooding treatment ended, the flooded seedlings grew faster than control seedlings, whereas in cuttings, post-flooding growth was similar to that of control plants. It is suggested that seedlings may perform better than cuttings in very wet or saturated soil.