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Diurnal and seasonal variation in photosynthesis of peach palms grown under subtropical conditions

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

The Amazonian peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) has been grown for heart-of-palm production under subtropical conditions. As we did not see any substantial study on its photosynthesis under Amazonian or subtropical conditions, we carried out an investigation on the diurnal and seasonal variations in photosynthesis of peach palms until the first heart-of-palm harvest, considering their relationship with key environmental factors. Spineless peach palms were grown in 80-L plastic pots, under irrigation. Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence emission measurements were taken in late winter, mid spring, mid summer and early autumn, from 7:00 to 18:00 h, with an additional chlorophyll fluorescence measurement at 6:00 h. The highest net CO2 assimilation (P N), observed in mid summer, reached about 15 μmol m−2 s−1, which was about 20% higher than the maximum values found in autumn and spring, and 60% higher than that in winter The same pattern of diurnal course for P N was observed in all seasons, showing higher values from 8:00 to 9:00 h and declining gradually from 11:00 h toward late afternoon. The diurnal course of stomatal conductance (g s) followed the same pattern of P N, with the highest value of 0.6 mol m−2 s−1 being observed in February and the lowest one (0.23 mol m−2 s−1) in September. The maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) was above 0.75 in the early morning in all the months. The reversible decrease was observed around midday in September and October, suggesting the occurrence of dynamic photoinhibition. A significant negative correlation between the leaf-air vapour pressure difference (VPDleaf-air) and P N and a positive correlation between P N and g s were observed. The photosynthesis of peach palm was likely modulated mainly by the stomatal control that was quite sensible to atmospheric environmental conditions. Under subtropical conditions, air temperature (T air) and VPDleaf-air impose more significant effects over P N of peach palm than an excessive photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). The occurrence of dynamic photoinhibition indicates that under irrigation, peach palms appeared to be acclimated to the full-sunlight conditions under which they have been grown.

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Abbreviations

AGR:

absolute growth rate

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

ETR:

apparent electron transport rate

F:

instantaneous fluorescence of light-adapted state

F0 :

minimal fluorescence yield of dark-adapted state

Fm :

maximal fluorescence of dark-adapted state

Fm’:

maximal fluorescence of light-adapted state

Fv :

variable fluorescence of dark-adapted state

Fv/Fm :

maximal PSII quantum yield

g s :

stomatal conductance

P N :

net CO2 assimilation

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

PSII:

photosystem II

T air :

air temperature

T leaf :

leaf temperature

VPDair :

air vapour pressure deficit

VPDleaf-air :

leaf-toair vapour pressure difference

ΔF:

variable fluorescence of light-adapted state

ΔF/Fm’:

effective PSII quantum yield

Ψleaf :

leaf water potential

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Fapesp, Brazil) for financial support (no 00/02782-6). E.C. Machado and R.V. Ribeiro are also grateful to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brazil) for the fellowship granted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Tropical Plants, Center for Research and Development in Horticulture, Instituto Agronomico, P.O. Box 28, 13012-970, Campinas/SP, Brazil

    M. L. S. Tucci

  2. Section of Plant Physiology, Center for Research and Development in Ecophysiology and Biophysics, Instituto Agronomico, P.O. Box 28, 13012-970, Campinas/SP, Brazil

    N. M. Erismann, E. C. Machado & R. V. Ribeiro

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  1. M. L. S. Tucci
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  2. N. M. Erismann
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  3. E. C. Machado
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  4. R. V. Ribeiro
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Correspondence to M. L. S. Tucci.

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Tucci, M.L.S., Erismann, N.M., Machado, E.C. et al. Diurnal and seasonal variation in photosynthesis of peach palms grown under subtropical conditions. Photosynthetica 48, 421–429 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-010-0055-y

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