Root deformation affects mineral nutrition but not leaf gas exchange and growth of Genipa americana seedlings during the recovery phase after soil flooding

Abstract Root deformation (RD) caused by errors in the pricking out process are irreversible and very difficult to detect container-grown seedlings at time of planting field. The objective this study was evaluate effects RD on leaf gas exchange, growth, biomass allocation mineral nutrition G. americana during recovery phase after soil flooding. Four-months-old seedlings, with without RD, were flooded for 42 days their evaluated 28 drainage. There no significant interactions between flooding all growth drainage, exception P concentrations. In plants concentration leaves non-flooded significantly higher than that RD. Soil did not influence or root N concentrations whole-plant content. increased K roots, but leaves. Changes nutrient roots indicate may affect physiological performance