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Morphophysiological differences in leaves of Lavoisiera campos-portoana (Melastomataceae) enhance higher drought tolerance in water shortage events

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Abstract

Lavoisiera campos-portoana Barreto (Melastomataceae) has two kinds of leaves, pubescent and glabrous, and branches may have one or both types of leaves at the same moment. The plant is endemic to high altitude rocky fields in Brazil where rainfall is very seasonal. We predicted that these two leaf types are adaptations to different regimes of water availability. In experimental conditions of drought stress, we measured relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll a fluorescence and osmotic potential, and we counted stomates and measured stomatal conductance on both sides of leaves and compared these between the two leaf types. Stomatal conductance and electron transport rate at a given photosynthetic photon flux were greater in pubescent leaves than in glabrous leaves, and both declined during drought stress. Excessive photon flux density in glabrous leaves was greater during stress and after rehydration. Photosynthetic pigment content and RWC did not change between leaves, and values reduced during the stress period. Both types of leaves showed osmotic adjustment capacity, which occurred earlier in glabrous ones. These morphophysiological differences highlight the adaptation strategies of this plant to withstand drought, since the glabrous portion of the plant presents a preventive behavior, while the pubescent portion only shows the same responses in more advanced stages of drought stress.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Plant Anatomy Laboratory of the Institute of Biological Sciences, for the suggestions and contributions in interpreting the morphology data. James J. Roper for comments and Alistair A. Hayward for the critical review of the English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil

    Marcel Giovanni Costa França, Lucas Martins Zimmer Prados, José Pires de Lemos-Filho, Bernardo Dourado Ranieri & Fernando Henrique Aguiar Vale

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  1. Marcel Giovanni Costa França
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  2. Lucas Martins Zimmer Prados
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  3. José Pires de Lemos-Filho
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  5. Fernando Henrique Aguiar Vale
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Correspondence to Marcel Giovanni Costa França.

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França, M.G.C., Prados, L.M.Z., de Lemos-Filho, J.P. et al. Morphophysiological differences in leaves of Lavoisiera campos-portoana (Melastomataceae) enhance higher drought tolerance in water shortage events. J Plant Res 125, 85–92 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-011-0416-z

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