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Photosynthetic traits of tree species in response to leaf nutrient content in the central Amazon

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Abstract

Rainforest tree species are often found on poor soils where essential nutrients may be in low concentrations. Here, we determine the effect of nutrients (N, P, Ca, Mg and K) in photosynthetic traits in five rainforest tree species from central Amazonia. Gas exchange parameters were measured with an infrared gas analyzer in four saplings (1–3 m tall) per species using two leaves per plant. Data on gas exchange and leaf nutrient content (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) were collected between August and November, 2010. Specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf thickness (L T) were also determined. Potential photosynthesis per unit mass (A pot-mass), maximum carboxylation velocity of Rubisco (V c-max) and electron transport rate (J max) were responsive to variation in leaf nutrient content per unit mass. On a mass basis, P content was positively correlated with N, Mg, and K content; Mg content was positively correlated with K content. However, no correlation was found between the content of P, Mg, K and Ca, or between Ca, Mg, K and N. SLA and L T were strongly related to A pot-area, V c-max and J max (per unit area). Our study shows in situ evidence on the effect of leaf nutrients on A pot-mass, V c-max and J max (per unit mass) of tree saplings in the central Amazon. The magnitude of changes in photosynthetic capacity of juvenile trees in the forest understory depends not only on N and P use efficiency, but also on the availability of K, Mg and Ca, in decreasing order.

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Abbreviations

A pot-area :

Potential photosynthesis per unit area

A pot-mass :

Potential photosynthesis per unit mass

A pot-area/Ca:

Calcium use efficiency

A pot-area/K:

Potassium use efficiency

A pot-area/Mg:

Magnesium use efficiency

A pot-area/N:

Nitrogen use efficiency

A pot-area/P:

Phosphorus use efficiency

Ca:

Calcium

C i :

Intercellular CO2 concentration

J max :

Electron transport rate

K:

Potassium

K c :

Michaelis constant of Rubisco for carboxylation

K o :

Michaelis constant of Rubisco for oxygenation

L T :

Fresh leaf thickness

Mg:

Magnesium

N:

Nitrogen

P:

Phosphorous

PPFD:

Photosynthetic photon flux density

SLA:

Specific leaf area

V cmax :

Maximum carboxylation velocity of Rubisco

Γ*:

CO2 compensation point in the absence of mitochondrial respiration in an illuminated leaf

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Acknowledgments

Ministério da Ciência Tecnologia e Inovação (MCTI/INPA), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas, FAPEAM (UA-062.03164.12), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Graduate Program, National Institute for Research in the Amazon, Manaus, Brazil

    Keila Rêgo Mendes

  2. Tree Ecophysiology Laboratory, National Institute for Research in the Amazon, Coordination of Environmental Dynamic, Manaus, AM, Brazil

    Ricardo Antonio Marenco

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  1. Keila Rêgo Mendes
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  2. Ricardo Antonio Marenco
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Correspondence to Keila Rêgo Mendes.

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Mendes, K.R., Marenco, R.A. Photosynthetic traits of tree species in response to leaf nutrient content in the central Amazon. Theor. Exp. Plant Physiol. 27, 51–59 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40626-015-0031-9

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