XVI International Botanical Congess

Our aim was to verify the aerenchyma formation in maize (cv. Saracura - BR154) roots subjected to different submersion periods. Seedlings with 4 days were subjected to hypoxia, by immersion in flooding buffer. After different periods of hypoxia cross sections and enzyme activity were evaluated in the basal, middle and apical regions of the root. Aerenchyma formation was observed only on the middle section of the root and it remained constant until the second day of hipoxia when the volume of gas space had a great increase. The cellulase activity followed the aerenchyma results, reaching its maximum value in roots subjected to 2, 3 and 4 days, decreasing after this period. Sponsored by CNPq and FAPEMIG