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Leaf gas exchange in species of the Theobroma genus

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Species of the Theobroma genus are primarily known by their commercially valuable seeds, especially, T. cacao is one of the most important tropical perennial crops. Beside T. grandiflorum, T. bicolor, and T. angustifolium, T. cacao is the only species of the genus that has been better studied to obtain physiologically relevant information. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the leaf gas exchange in seedlings of seven species of the Theobroma genus, seeking to identify characteristics that could be used in T. cacao breeding programmes. The study was realized under greenhouse conditions using six-month-old seedlings, in which net photosynthetic rate (P N), stomatal conductance (g s), transpiration (E), as well as parameters derived from light curves (P N vs. photosynthetically active radiation) were evaluated. T. cacao, along with T. microcarpum, showed the lowest values of P N, g s, and E, while the highest values were presented by T. speciosum, which showed higher saturation irradiance and lower intrinsic and instantaneous water-use efficiencies, being considered the species less conservative in water use. Therefore, the parameters shown by the different evaluated species could serve to design T. cacao genotypes, through introgression of genes for specific environments such as the cabruca system widespread in southern Bahia, Brazil.

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Abbreviations

E :

transpiration

g s :

stomatal conductance to water vapor

g s/VPD:

stomatal conductance to water vapor normalized for leaf-to-air vapor pressure deficit

I c :

compensation irradiance

I s :

saturation irradiance

PAR:

photosynthetically active radiation

P Gmax :

maximum rate of gross photosynthetic rate at saturation irradiance

P N :

net photosynthetic rate per leaf area unit

R D :

dark respiration rate

VPD:

leaf-to-air vapor pressure deficit

WUE (=P N/E ):

instantaneous water-use efficiency

WUEi (= P N/gs):

intrinsic water-use efficiency

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (DCB/UESC), Rod. Ihéus-Itabuna, km 16, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil

    A. -A. F. Almeida, F. P. Gomes, R. P. Araujo & R. R. Valle

  2. Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau, Comissão Executiva do Plano da Lavoura Cacaueira (CEPEC/CEPLAC), Caixa Postal 7, Itabuna, BA, 45600-000, Brazil

    R. C. Santos & R. R. Valle

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  1. A. -A. F. Almeida
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  2. F. P. Gomes
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  3. R. P. Araujo
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  4. R. C. Santos
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  5. R. R. Valle
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Correspondence to A. -A. F. Almeida.

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Almeida, A.A.F., Gomes, F.P., Araujo, R.P. et al. Leaf gas exchange in species of the Theobroma genus. Photosynthetica 52, 16–21 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0048-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0048-8

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