Abstract
Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl. is widely planted in the Amazon and information about thinning effects is poorly documented. Here, we investigate thinning effects on the ecophysiology of B. excelsa plantations. The thinning trial was set up as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two treatments (unthinned and thinned to 50% basal area removal). The canopy openness of plots thinned was two times higher than the unthinned treatment (control). B. excelsa under thinning growed three times in relation to trees of control. One week after thinning, we observed increase of 25% photosynthesis (PN), 100% respiration (Rd), 35% stomatal conductance (gs), and 25% transpiration (E). After thinning, we verified reduction of the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (FV/FM), with subsequent recovery. At the end of 5 months after thinning, the trees on thinned plots achieved values of leaf mass per area (LMA), nitrogen (Na), phosphorus (Pa), and potassium (Ka) about 27% higher than trees of unthinned plots. Thinning did not affect the midday leaf water potential (Ψw). Thinning increased the growth of B. excelsa influenced by photosynthetic performance and regulated by the gs, LMA, leaf Na, and Pa concentrations. Our findings demonstrated that thinning can be recommended for timber production under the dense planting of Brazil nut trees cultivated in degraded Amazonian areas.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the National Institute for Amazonian Research (MCTI-INPA) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil) for financial support and for a fellowship granted to JFdCG (CNPq #308493/2022-2). This work was also supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Level Personnel (CAPES, Brazil, Finance code 001). We extend acknowledgements to the Amazonas State Research Support Foundation (FAPEAM, Brazil) for the funding granted through POSGRAD 2022/2023 project.
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IVdO, KCPdC, and JFdCG discussed the original idea. IVdO, and JCdC, carried out the experiments and analyzed the data. IVdO conceived the study and wrote the article with contributions of all authors; AdRNJ research plans and complemented the writing; IVdO and JCdC provided technical assistance to KCPdC and JFdCG supervised the experiments; JFdCG agrees to serve as the author responsible for contact and ensures communication.
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de Oliveira, I.V., da Costa, K.C.P., da Rocha Nina Junior, A. et al. Brazil nut tree increases photosynthetic activity and stem diameter growth after thinning. Theor. Exp. Plant Physiol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40626-024-00317-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40626-024-00317-4