Flooding is a stressful condition that causes damage to the photosynthetic apparatus, negatively affecting the growth of seedlings of fruit species, including Hymenaea courbaril L. Studies on physiological management, such as exogenous application of phytohormones, to alleviate abiotic stress have increased. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) on H. courbaril seedlings subjected to flooding. The seedlings received foliar application of four concentrations of SA (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg L-1) and were subjected to two water regimes: a) control - non-flooded and irrigated daily and b) flooded - seedlings were placed in a plastic pool, keeping the water depth at ± 5.0 cm above the substrate level. After 35 days, we evaluated the gas exchange, initial growth, quality, and potential ecological resilience of the seedlings. All flooded seedlings survived, but had reduced photosynthesis, carboxylation of Rubisco efficiency, and water-use and stomatal conductance when they received 100-300 mg L-1 SA. The seedlings that received between 100 and 300 mg L-1 SA had greater growth, quality, and phenotypic plasticity. Foliar application of SA did not mitigated the effect of flooding on gas exchange but contributed to the growth of H. courbaril seedlings.

Organic residue in the substrate and the availability of light influence the production of high-quality seedlings for ex situ cultivation of native forest species. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of doses of chicken manure incorporated in the soil and shading levels on the morphophysiological responses and quality of Alibertia edulis (Rich.) A. Rich seedlings. Five doses of chicken manure (CM) were tested, 0.00, 2.08, 4.16, 6.24, and 8.32 g CM kg-1 soil, under two shade conditions, 0% (full sun) and 50% shading. At 215 days after transplanting, the maximum height obtained for A. edulis was 47.35 cm with 5.64 g CM kg-1 soil under 50% shade. Shaded seedlings had a higher number of leaves. The maximum leaf and root areas were 796.64 and 118.83 cm2 with 5.32 and 4.21 g CM kg-1 soil, respectively, both under 50% shade. Seedlings in 0% shade had lower physiological indices. Shading levels did not affect stomatal limitation, but CM contributed to physiological efficiency. Shoot biomass was higher under 50% shade with higher CM doses. The highest quality indexes occurred with 3.98 and 6.28 g kg-1 CM under 0 and 50% shade, respectively. A. edulis seedlings responded positively to the addition of CM to the soil and presented plasticity under contrasting light conditions. A. edulis seedlings produced under 50% shading with the addition of 6.24 g CM kg-1 soil presented high morphophysiological and seedling quality indicators. The addition of 4.32 g CM kg-1 soil contributed to high seedling quality under full sun conditions.