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Phenology, growth, and response to light of ciruela Mexicana (Spondias purpurea L., Anacardiaceae)

FenologÍa, Crecimiento, y Respuesta a la Luz en Ciruela Mexicana (Spondias purpurea L., Anacardiaceae)

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Abstract

The phenology of vegetative and reproductive patterns, shoot growth, and the physiological and anatomical plasticity of leaves of ciruela mexicana (Spondias purpurea L) exposed to different ranges of light are described. Flower and fruit production occur during the dry season. Shoot elongation occurs during late spring and summer. Growth rates of S. purpurea are similar to the rates reported for fast growing plants, when growing on rocky slopes in shallow infertile soils. Leaves exposed to the highest photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) had a thicker mesophyll than leaves that developed under the shade. Midday depression of photosynthesis was observed forS. purpurea. The reduction in the rates of net CO2 uptake was related to high temperatures, high PPF, and increased leaf starch content. Plasticity in physiological and anatomical traits as observed in S. purpurea may be advantageous in the low-resource rocky environments where it grows.

Résumé

En este trabajo se estudió el tiempo de ocurrencia del desarrollo reproductivo y vegetativo, crecimiento de ramas y la plasticidad anatómica y fisiolǵica de las hojas de ciruela mexicana (Spondias purpurea L.) expuestas a diferentes rangos de luz. La floración y fructificatión ocurren durante la época seca del año. La elongatión de las ramas ocurre al final de la primavera y durante el verano. Las tasas de crecimiento deS. purpurea son similares a las registrados para plantas de râpido crecimiento, no obstante que crece en pendientes pronunciadas y en suelos someros de baja fertilidad. Las hojas expuestas a altos niveles de flujo fotónico fotosintético (PPF) mostraron un mesófilo más grueso que las que se desarrollaron bajo la sombra. Se registró descenso de la fotosíntesis durante el mediodia, así como una reductión en los valores de asimilaciôn neta de CO2 la cual fue relacionada con allas temperaturas, niveles altos de PPF y un incremento en el contenido foliar de almidón. La plasticidad anatómica y fisiológica que presenta S. purpurea, podría ser una ventaja en ambientes rocosos con baja disponibilidad de recursos, donde comúnmente crece esta especie.

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  1. Departamento de Ecología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias. Universidad de Guadalajara, ApartadoPostal 39-82, Las Agujas, 44410, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico

    Eulogio Pimenta-Barrios & Blanca C. Ramírez-Hernández

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  1. Eulogio Pimenta-Barrios
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Pimenta-Barrios, E., Ramírez-Hernández, B.C. Phenology, growth, and response to light of ciruela Mexicana (Spondias purpurea L., Anacardiaceae). Econ Bot 57, 481–490 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2003)057[0481:PGARTL]2.0.CO;2

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