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Physiological variables related to photosynthesis are more plastic than the morphological and biochemistry in non-pioneer tropical trees under contrasting irradiance

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Abstract

Contradicting the notion that non-pioneer tree species are less tolerant to high irradiance due to their lower plasticity, some non-pioneer tropical species have shown high capacities to adjust to full sun. This ability has been attributed to the greater plasticity related to photosynthesis variables rather than morphological variables. To test this hypothesis, we performed the present study to identify the phenotypic variables of greatest plasticity in the non-pioneer species Cariniana estrellensis (Raddi) Kuntze, Cedrela odorata L., and Manilkara salzmannii (A.DC.) H.J. Lam., which are very representative of the rainforests of Brazil and have a large potential for reforestation. After 150 days of cultivation in full sun (1,820 ± 110 μmol m−2 s−1) or shade (250 ± 84 μmol m−2 s−1), measurements were made of growth, chloroplast pigments, net assimilation rate (NAR), soluble carbohydrates (glucose, fructose and sucrose), catalase and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, and leaf and stem anatomy. The pigments and NAR showed greater plasticity than did the biochemical (carbohydrates and enzyme), growth or anatomy variables. Although the growth variables demonstrated low plasticity, the leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf area ratio (LAR) had plasticity index values over 0.5. Cedrela odorata was concluded to be the most plastic specie in leaf area, SLA, LAR, NAR, Carotenoids, APX, and the thickness of the periderm. The tolerance of Cariniana estrellensis, Cedrela odorata, and Manilkara salzmannii to full sun was attributed to the high plasticity of their physiological variables NAR and chloroplast pigments.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the National Plan for Botany Development–Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education(PNADB-CAPES) for the funding [Assistance 1147/2010] and for granting the Master’s scholarship to the first author and the Vale Nature Reserve for providing the biological material. The last author thanks the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for granting the scientific productivity scholarship (Process 305447/2012-2).

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  1. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Ciências Humanas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Avenue Fernando Ferrari 514, Campus Universitário Alaor Queiroz de Araújo, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil

    Thiele Arpini Gaburro, Leonardo Valandro Zanetti, Vinícius Novo Gama, Camilla Rozindo Dias Milanez & Geraldo Rogério Faustini Cuzzuol

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  1. Thiele Arpini Gaburro
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  3. Vinícius Novo Gama
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  5. Geraldo Rogério Faustini Cuzzuol
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Correspondence to Geraldo Rogério Faustini Cuzzuol.

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Gaburro, T.A., Zanetti, L.V., Gama, V.N. et al. Physiological variables related to photosynthesis are more plastic than the morphological and biochemistry in non-pioneer tropical trees under contrasting irradiance. Braz. J. Bot 38, 39–49 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-014-0113-y

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