Atividade fotossintética em folhas e pseudobulbos de Cattleya warneri (CAM) e Miltonia spectabilis (C3) sob défict hídrico

Neste estudo foram avaliadas características ecofisiológicas em folhas e pseudobulbos de espécies de orquídeas epífitas com metabolismo CAM (Cattleya warneri T. Moore) e C3 (Miltonia spectabilis Lindl.) submetidas ao déficit hídrico (DH) prolongado (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, e 90 dias.). Para isto, plantas de C. warneri e M. spectabilis obtidas em um orquidário em João Neiva/ES foram transferidas para orquidário na UFES Campus de São Mateus/ES, onde avaliações da fluorescência transiente da clorofila a, conteúdo relativo de água (CRA) e pigmentos fotossintéticos foram realizadas em folhas e pseudobulbos. Sob DH, o CRA foi significativamente reduzido nas folhas e pseudobulbos de ambas as espécies, porém, de maneira similar entre os órgãos da espécie CAM (a partir dos 30 dias de DH) e mais lentamente nas folhas em relação aos pseudobulbos na espécie C3 (a partir do DH-60 e DH-30, respectivamente). A concentração de pigmentos fotossintéticos também foi alterada em resposta ao déficit hídrico, com declínios observados na concentração de clorofila a, b e total e incrementos dos carotenoides nas folhas de ambas as espécies, com acréscimos de todos esses pigmentos nos pseudobulbos de C. warneri e nenhuma alteração em M. spectabilis. Parâmetros da fluorescência da clorofila a revelaram incrementos nas fases O-J, J-I, Bandas-L e K, F0, ABS/RC, DI0/RC e decréscimos na fase I-P, FV/FM, ET0/TR0, ET0/ABS e PITOTAL em folhas e pseudobulbos de ambas as espécies, porém, mais expressivamente nos pseudobulbos de M. spectabilis e com certa similaridade entre folhas e pseudobulbos de C. warneri. Dessa forma, observou-se que ambas as espécies demonstraram-se vulneráveis ao DH prolongado, com declínios no CRA, fotodestruição dos pigmentos fotossintéticos e declínios nas atividades fotoquímicas, especialmente após o DH-30. Entretanto, a melhor manutenção dos valores de CRA e menor perda do desempenho das reações fotoquímicas observados nas folhas da espécie C3, M. spectabilis, associadas a um maior comprometimento dos pseudobulbos, indicam que esta espécie apresenta-se mais tolerante ao DH de longo prazo. A explicação para isso pode ser o fato de as folhas senescentes, e, principalmente os pseudobulbos, estarem atuando como órgãos facilitadores na mobilização de água mais eficientemente em M. spectabilis, permitindo a manutenção do CRA mais elevado nas folhas jovens com consequente manutenção das atividades fotoquímicas.In this study ecophysiological characteristics were evaluated in leaves and pseudobulbs of epiphytic orchids species with CAM (Cattleya warneri T. Moore) and C3 (Miltonia spectabilis Lindl.) metabolism under prolonged water deficit (WD) (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 days). For this, C. warneri and M. spectabilis plants obtained from a nursery in João Neiva/ES were transferred to nursery in UFES - Campus de São Mateus/ES, where chlorophyll a fluorescence transient, relative water content (RWC) and photosynthetic pigments were measured in leaves and pseudobulbs. Under WD, the RWC was significantly reduced in leaves and pseudobulbs of both species, however, in a similar way between the organs of CAM species (as from 30 days of WD - WD-30) and more slowly in the leaves in relation to pseudobulbs in C3 species (as from WD-60 and WD-30, respectively). The photosynthetic pigments concentration also were changed in response to water deficit, with declines observed in the chlorophyll a, b and total and increases of carotenoids in the leaves of both species, with increases in all of these pigments in the pseudobulbs of C. warneri, and no change in M. spectabilis. Chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters revealed increases in O-J and J-I phases, L and K-Bands, F0, ABS/RC, DI0/RC and decreases in the I-P phase, FV/FM, ET0/TR0, ET0/ABS e PITOTAL in leaves and pseudobulbs of both species, but more markedly in the pseudobulbs of M. spectabilis and with certain similarity between leaves and pseudobulbs of C. warneri. Thus, it is noted that both species demonstrated vulnerable to prolonged WD, with declines in the RWC, photodestruction of photosynthetic pigments and declines in photochemical activities, especially after the WD-30. However, the better maintenance of RWC values and smaller loss of performance of photochemical reactions observed in leaves of C3 species, M. spectabilis, associated with greater engagement of pseudobulbs indicate that this species is more tolerant to prolonged WD. The explanation for this may be the fact that senescent leaves, and mainly pseudobulbs are acting as facilitators organs in the in mobilization of water more effectively in this species, allowing the maintenance of the highest RWC on young leaves with consequent maintenance of photochemical activities.CAPE

Analyses of OJIP transients in leaves of two epiphytic orchids under drought stress

The tolerance to low water availability is a decisive factor for growth and survival of orchids in their natural environment. The objective of this study was to characterize the photochemical traits of two epiphytic orchids (Cattleya warneri and Miltonia spectabilis) under water deficit (WD). Chlorophyll a fluorescence signals were recorded from young and fully expanded leaves of 5 plants/ species after dark-adaption for 60 minutes, between 6-9 a.m. after 0, 30, 60, and 90 days of WD, using a Handy-PEA fluorometer (Hansatech, UK). Increases of O-J and J-I phases and L and K-bands and decreases of I-P phase were observed after 30 days of WD, especially in C. warneri. Decreases in the capacity to photochemically reduce quinone A (QA) and the kinetic properties required for redox reactions of the plastoquinone pool, the loss of energetic connectivity between units of PSII, inactivation of the oxygen evolution complex, and decrease of the overall rate of reducing the electron acceptor pool of photosystem I were observed in M. spectabilis, a more tolerant species. The greater ability of this species to maintain higher relative water content (RWC) in photosynthetic tissues allows greater photochemical activity

Exposition of three Cattleya species (Orchidaceae) to full sunlight: effect on their physiological plasticity and response to changes in light conditions

In order to establish a link between the evolutionary history and the photochemical attributes, measurements of chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence were made in Cattleya warneri, C. shofieldiana and C. harrisoniana exposed to high irradiance for 5, 35, and 120 min (hereafter referred to as treatments T5, T35, and T120, respectively). The following questions are addressed: (1) Is the increased energy dissipation enough to counterbalance the excess energy that drives photosynthesis at different times of high irradiance exposure? (2) Is there an influence of the incidence and duration of light radiation on Cattleya species in full sunlight, compared to Cattleya species submitted to low irradiance? Higher relative variable fluorescence at the J-step (Vj) values followed by the lower quantum yield of electron transport (ψEo) indicate the accumulation of reduced Quinone A (QA) proportionally of sunflecks exposure time in C. warneri. The higher performance index (PIABS) and plasticity index values in C. schofieldiana indicate higher efficiency in modulating the photosynthetic apparatus under sunflecks. C. harrisoniana shows the lowest plasticity index, suppression of maximum fluorescence (Fm), and no recovery of PIABS after sunflecks. This study evidences the importance of physiological plasticity in the current geographic distribution of Cattleya in response to light pulses in species derived from fragmented habitats and the maintenance of shade to species of more primitive clades