We assessed the effect of the exposure to full sunlight (5, 35, and 120 min, i.e. T5, T35, and T120) on fluorescence parameters of two young tropical trees, Swietenia macrophylla, a gap-demanding species, and Minquartia guianensis, a shade tolerant species. Fluorescence parameters (F0, Fm, Fv/Fm) were recorded before treatments and after the transition to low irradiance (LI). Recovery from photoinhibition (measured as Fv/Fm) was monitored for 24 h at LI. In Swietenia, an almost complete restoration of the Fv/Fm values occurred in T5 and T35 plants, when a rise in F0 was observed after the transition to LI. This was inferred as indicative of dynamic photoinhibition. T120 led to a decline in F0 in Minquartia, but not in Swietenia. The plants of both species were unable to recovery from photoinhibition after 24 h at LI, when F0 declined or remained unchanged. This was interpreted as indicative of chronic photoinhibition. Compared with Swietenia, Minquartia was more susceptible to photoinhibition, as indicated by lower Fv/Fm values. and D. P. Dias, R. A. Marenco.