Présentation

The rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) is a native tree species of Amazon rainforest growing naturally in acidic forest soils with reduced redox potential. However, this species can also been found growing in forest gaps containing oxide soils. Variations in the forms of mineral nitrogen (NO3- or NH4+) may be predicted in these different edaphic conditions. Considering that possibility, an experiment was carried out to analyze the effects of different NO3-:NH4+ ratios on the growth performance, mineral composition, chloroplastid pigment contents, photochemical efficiency photosystem II (PSII), and nitrate redutase activity (RN, E.C.1.6.6.1) on A. rosaeodora seedlings. Nine-month-old seedlings were grown in pots with a washed sand capacity of 7.5 kg and submitted to different NO3-:NH4+ ratios (T1 = 0:100%, T2 = 25:75%, T3 = 50:50%, T4 = 75:25%, and T5 = 100:0%). The lowest relative growth rate was observed when the NO3-:NH4+ ratio was equal to 0:100%. In general, high concentrations of NO3- rather than NH4+ favored a greater nutrient accumulation in different parts of the plant. For the chloroplastid pigment, the highest Chl a, Chl b, Chl tot, Chl a/b and Chl tot/Cx+c contents were found in the treatment with 75:25% of NO3-:NH4+, and for Chl b and Cx+c it was observed no difference. In addition, there was a higher photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) when high NO3- concentrations were used. A linear and positive response for the nitrate reductase activity was recorded when the nitrate content increased on the culture substrate. Our results suggest that A. rosaeodora seedlings have a better growth performance when the NO3- concentrations in the culture substrate were higher than the NH4+ concentrations.O pau-rosa (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) habita, naturalmente, solos florestais ácidos com potencial redox reduzido. No entanto, estas espécies têm sido encontradas também em clareiras que, teoricamente, apresentam solos mais oxidados. Nestas diferentes condições edáficas, pode-se prever variações nas formas do nitrogênio mineral (NO3- ou NH4+). Considerando essa possibilidade foi conduzido experimento com o objetivo de estudar os efeitos de diferentes relações de NO3-:NH4+ sobre o acúmulo de biomassa, a composição mineral, as concentrações de pigmentos cloroplastídicos, a eficiência fotoquímica do fotossistema II e a atividade da enzima redutase do nitrato (RN, E.C.1.6.6.1) em A. rosaeodora. Plantas jovens com nove meses foram cultivadas em vasos com capacidade para 7,5 kg e submetidas a diferentes relações de NO3-:NH4+ (T1 = 0:100%, T2 = 25:75%, T3 = 50:50%, T4 = 75:25% e T5 = 100:0%). As menores taxas de acúmulo de biomassa foram observadas quando a relação das concentrações de NO3-:NH4+ foi igual a 0:100%. De maneira geral, a maior concentração de NO3- em relação a NH4+ favoreceu maior acúmulo de nutrientes nas diferentes partes da planta. Para os teores de pigmentos cloroplastídicos, os maiores valores de Chl a, Chl tot, Chl a/b e Chl tot/x+c, foram encontrados no tratamento com 75:25% de NO3-:NH4+, não ocorrendo diferença para os teores de Chl b e Cx+c. Em relação a eficiência fotoquímica do fotossistema II (Fv/Fm) maior eficiência também ocorreu quando predominou maior concentração de NO3- em relação ao NH4+. Quanto a atividade da reductase do nitrato observou-se resposta linear e positiva para o incremento da concentração de nitrato no substrato de cultivo. Portanto, os resultados obtidos sugerem que as plantas jovens de A. rosaeodora apresentaram melhor desempenho quando as concentrações de NO3- no substrato de cultivo foram superiores as concentrações de NH4+

Características fisiológicas e anatômicas de folhas de dois clones de guaraná

The objective of this work was to analyze gas exchange, photosynthetic characteristics, photochemical efficiency of photosystem II and anatomical characteristics of young plant leaves of two guarana (Paullinia cupana) clones (BRS-CG372RC and BRS-CG611RL) growing under open field. The variables of gas exchange and fluorescence of chlorophyll a were evaluated in mature leaves. The values of photosynthesis and transpiration found for BRS-CG372RC were 27% greater and 80% lesser than values found for BRS-CG611RL, respectively. The values of stomatal conductance found for the clones BRS-CG372RC and BRS-CG611RL were in the order of 224 and 614 mmol mm-2 s-1, respectively. The values of photorespiration, rate of carboxylation and rate electron transport were greater in BRS-CG372RC. The clone BRS-CG372RC exhibited stomatal density 26% greater than BRS-CG611RL. However, the area of ostiolar opening was 42% greater in BRS-CG611RL. The values of the water use efficiency in BRS-CG372RC were 134% greater than in BRS-CG611RL. High stomatal density and low stomatal conductance can be important characteristics in the selection of the clones with a good ability to assimilate carbon and optimize the use of water.O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar as trocas gasosas, as características fotossintéticas, a eficiência fotoquímica do fotossistema II e as características anatômicas foliares de plantas jovens de dois clones de guaraná desenvolvidas a pleno sol. As variáveis de trocas gasosas e fluorescência da clorofila a foram determinadas em folhas maduras. Os valores de fotossíntese e transpiração encontrados para BRS-CG372RC foram 27% maiores e 80% menores que os valores encontrados para BRS-CG611RL, respectivamente. Os valores de condutância estomática dos clones BRS-CG372RC e BRS-CG611RL foram de aproximadamente 224 e 614 mmol m-2 s-1, respectivamente. Os valores de fotorrespiração, taxa de carboxilação e taxa de transporte de elétrons foram maiores em BRS-CG372RC. O clone BRS-CG372RC apresentou densidade estomática 26% maior que BRS-CG611RL. A área de abertura do ostíolo foi 42% maior em BRS-CG611RL. O valor da eficiência no uso da água em BRS-CG372RC foi 134% maior que em BRS-CG611RL. Alta densidade estomática e baixa condutância estomática são características importantes para a seleção de clones com boa capacidade para assimilar carbono e que sejam eficientes no uso da água

Chloroplastid pigment contents and chlorophyll a fluorescence in Amazonian tropical three species

Plants react to changes in light and hydrological conditions in terms of quantity and composition of chloroplastidic pigments, which affects the photosynthetic properties and consequently the accumulation of plant biomass. Thus, the chloroplastidic pigment concentration and chlorophyll a fluorescence of three Amazonian species (Bertholletia excelsa, Carapa guianensis e Dipteryx odorata) were investigated in sun and shade leaves form the tree crown collected during two distinct periods of precipitation (dry and rainy seasons). Pigment contents were determined by spectrophotometry and fluorescence variables were determined using a portable fluorometer. The results demonstrated that the species showed high concentrations of Chl a, Chl b e Chl total during the wet season in relation to the dry season, especially in shade leaves. A higher concentration of carotenoids was found in B. excelsa, when compared with leaves of C. guianensis and D. odorata. In leaves of B. excelsa and D. odorata no significant difference was found in relation to the photochemistry of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) between the wet and dry seasons. In conclusion, the three species react differently to variations in the light and precipitation conditions regarding light capture, aspects that might be considered in the management of forest plantations

Physiological and anatomical characteristics of leaves of two clones of guarana

The objective of this work was to analyze gas exchange, photosynthetic characteristics, photochemical efficiency of photosystem II and anatomical characteristics of young plant leaves of two guarana (Paullinia cupana) clones (BRS-CG372RC and BRS-CG611RL) growing under open field. The variables of gas exchange and fluorescence of chlorophyll a were evaluated in mature leaves. The values of photosynthesis and transpiration found for BRS-CG372RC were 27% greater and 80% lesser than values found for BRS-CG611RL, respectively. The values of stomatal conductance found for the clones BRS-CG372RC and BRS-CG611RL were in the order of 224 and 614 mmol mm-2 s-1, respectively. The values of photorespiration, rate of carboxylation and rate electron transport were greater in BRS-CG372RC. The clone BRS-CG372RC exhibited stomatal density 26% greater than BRS-CG611RL. However, the area of ostiolar opening was 42% greater in BRS-CG611RL. The values of the water use efficiency in BRS-CG372RC were 134% greater than in BRS-CG611RL. High stomatal density and low stomatal conductance can be important characteristics in the selection of the clones with a good ability to assimilate carbon and optimize the use of water