Climatic Variation on Gas Exchange and Chlorophyll a Fluorescence in Tabebuia roseoalba and Handroanthus heptaphyllus (Bignoniaceae)

Abstract: Climatic variation throughout the day influences the ecophysiological performance of plants at different growth stages and phases. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of climatic variation on ecophysiological aspects of T. roseoalba and H. heptaphyllus at different hours of the day and indicate the ideal time for measuring ecophysiological variables in these species. The research was carried out in a greenhouse at the forest nursery of the Federal University of Paraíba, Campus II, in the municipality of Areia, Paraíba state, Northeastern Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of 10 evaluation times throughout the day (from 8 am to 5 pm), with 1 h hour interval between each evaluation. Temperature and air relative humidity inside and outside the greenhouse were evaluated to understand the effect on gas exchange (net assimilation rate of CO2, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, internal concentration of CO2, and vapor-pressure deficit) and chlorophyll a fluorescence (initial, maximum, and variable fluorescence, photochemical quenching, and electron transport rate). Data were submitted to canonical correlation analysis and principal component analysis to verify the relationship between climatic and ecophysiological variables. For both species, higher correlation was found between internal and external relative humidity with all the ecophysiological variables analyzed, except for initial fluorescence. Thus, climatic factors influenced the photosynthetic performance of T. roseoalba and H. heptaphyllus plants, and 8 am to 9 am is indicated for carrying out ecophysiological evaluations in both species.

Allometric equations to estimate the leaf area of Psychotria colorata (Willd. Ex Schult.) Müll.Arg.

Estimating leaf area using non-destructive methods from regression equations has become a more efficient, quick, and accurate way. Thus, this study aimed to propose an equation that significantly estimates the leaf area of Psychotria colorata (Rubiaceae) through linear leaf dimensions. For this purpose, 200 leaves of different shapes were collected, and length (L), width (W), product of length by width (L.W), and real leaf area (LA) of each leaf blade were determined. Then, equations were adjusted for predicting leaf area using simple linear, linear (0.0), quadratic, cubic, power, and exponential regression models. The proposed equation was selected according to the coefficient of determination (R²), Willmott's agreement index (d), Akaike's information criterion (AIC), mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (RMSE) and BIAS index. It was noted that the equations adjusted using L.W met the best criteria for estimating leaf area, but the equation LA = 0.59 * L.W from linear regression without intercept was the most suitable. This equation predicts that 59% of leaf area is explained by L.W. Concluding, the leaf area of P. colorata can be estimated using an allometric equation that uses linear leaf blade dimensions.

Photosynthesis of Physalis peruviana under different densities of photons and saline stress

Physalis peruviana L. is a solanacea that has been gaining prominence due to its fruits presenting good acceptance in the national and international market. However, several abiotic factors, such as salinity, can cause physiological disturbances in plants, and these changes may be of greater or lesser intent according to species. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to evaluate the physiological behavior of P. peruviana submitted to different fluxes of photosynthetically active photons (PPFD) and saline stress. The experimental design was a randomized block design with three saline levels (ECw) (0.5, 2.75 and 5.00 dS m-1) with four replications. Gas exchange measurements were performed with a portable infrared gas analyzer. Liquid CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, internal CO2 concentration, water use efficiency and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency were measured. Data were subjected to analysis of variance by F test and in cases of significance applied to regression analysis. The increase in PPFD provided reductions in stomatal conductance up to the density of approximately 400 µmol m-2s-1, being more pronounced in ECw of 2.75 and 5.0 dS m-1. The maximum CO2 assimilation rates in the three salinities are different according to the PPFD. The salinity of irrigation water reduced the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis in P. peruviana plants.

Physiological changes in Solanum lycopersicum L. in the presence of root-knot nematodes and salicylic acid / Alterações fisiológicas em Solanum lycopersicum L. na presença de nematóides das galhas e ácido salicílico

Nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne spp. are one of the tomato culture's main pathogens. According to their soil infestation level, physiological changes may occur. Consequently, it is extremely important to employ given products to minimize their effect. A feasible option is the salicylic acid, a phytohormone that can induce into resistance due to its ability to increase the production level of some pathogenicity proteins. Therefore, the purpose hereof was to assess the effect of salicylic acid on the physiology of tomato plants subject to different populational densities of Meloidogyne javanica. The design employed was one of randomized blocks, in an incomplete factorial scheme, using the Box Central Compound (BCC) matrix with five nematode populational densities (PD) (0; 5815; 20000; 34184; and 40000 eggs per plant) and five salicylic acid doses (0.0; 0.29; 1.0; 1.71; and 2.0 mM), with four repetitions and two plants per experimental patch. The gas exchanges, fluorescence, and chlorophyll levels were evaluated 45 days after the transplant and soil infestation. The data were submitted for analysis of variance through the F test and, in the significance cases, the polynomial regression analysis was performed. For stomatal conductance, a greater reduction was seen at the PD of 21755 eggs per plant, a fact that might have decreased the liquid assimilation of CO2 and the efficiency of carboxylation. The salicylic acid (SA) affected the CO2 liquid assimilation and the efficiency of carboxylation. The infestation of M. javanica in tomato plants negatively affected the gas exchange and the chlorophyll levels because the SA application did not mitigate the negative effect thereof.

Os nematoides do gênero Meloidogyne spp. são um dos principais patógenos na cultura do tomate, podendo causar alterações fisiológicas em função do nível de infestação do solo. O uso de produtos que minimize seus efeitos é de suma importância, nesse sentido, o ácido salicílico pode ser uma alternativa viável, visto que, esse fitormônio pode induzir a resistência devido à capacidade de proporcionar um aumento na produção de algumas proteínas de patogenicidade. Com isso, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do ácido salicílico na fisiologia do tomateiro submetido a diferentes densidades populacionais de Meloidogyne javanica. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial incompleto, utilizando-se a matriz Composto Central de Box (CCB) com cinco densidades populacionais (DP) de nematoides (0; 5815; 20000; 34184 e 40000 ovos por planta) e cinco doses de ácido salicílico (0,0; 0,29; 1,0; 1,71 e 2,0 mM), com quatro repetições e duas plantas por parcela experimental. Foram avaliadas as trocas gasosas, fluorescências e índices de clorofilas aos 45 dias após o transplantio e infestação do solo. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância pelo teste F e nos casos de significância foi realizada análise de regressão polinomial. Para a condutância estomática, observou-se uma maior redução na DP de 21755 ovos por planta, fato que pode ter ocasionado reduções na assimilação líquida de CO2 e na eficiência de carboxilação. O ácido salicílico (AS) influenciou na assimilação líquida de CO2 e eficiência de carboxilação. A infestação por M. javanica em plantas de tomateiro influenciou negativamente nas trocas gasosas e nos teores de clorofila, sendo que a aplicação do AS não atenuou os efeitos negativos desses patógenos.

Estimation of leaf area of Erythroxylum citrifolium from linear leaf dimensions / Estimativa da área foliar de Erythroxylum citrifolium a partir de dimensões lineares da folha

Erythroxylum citrifolium is a neotropical plant species recorded in all regions of Brazil. Determining leaf area is of fundamental importance to studies related to plant propagation and growth. The objective was to obtain an equation to estimate the leaf area of E. citrifolium from linear dimensions of the leaf blade (length and width). A total of 200 leaf blades were collected in Parque Estadual Mata do Pau-Ferro in the municipality of Areia, state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. The models evaluated were: linear, linear without intercept, quadratic, cubic, power and exponential. The best model was determined by the criteria of: high coefficient of determination (R²), low root mean square error (RMSE), low Akaike information criterion (AIC), high Willmott concordance index (d) and a BIAS index close to zero. All of the models constructed satisfactorily estimated the leaf area of E. citrifolium, with coefficients of determination above 0.9050, but the power model using the product between length and width (L*W) y = 0.5966 * LW1.0181 was the best, with the highest values of R² and d, low values of RMSE and AIC, and a BIAS index closest to zero.

Erythroxylum citrifolium é uma espécie de planta neotropical com registros em todas as regiões do Brasil. A determinação da área foliar é de fundamental importância em estudos relacionados a propagação e crescimento vegetal. O objetivo foi obter uma equação que permita estimar a área foliar de E. citrifolium a partir de dimensões lineares do limbo foliar (comprimento e largura). Foram coletados 200 limbos foliares no Parque Estadual Mata do Pau-Ferro, Areia, Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Os modelos empregados foram: linear, linear sem intercepto, quadrático, cúbico, potencial e exponencial. Os critérios utilizados para escolher o melhor modelo, teve como base o maior coeficiente de determinação (R²), menor raiz do quadrado médio do erro (RMSE), menor critério de informação de Akaike (AIC), maior índice de concordância de Willmott (d) e índice BIAS mais próximo de zero. Todos os modelos construídos podem estimar satisfatoriamente a área foliar de E. citrifolium, com coeficientes determinação acima de 0,9050, porém o modelo potencial utilizando o produto entre comprimento e largura (L*W) y = 0,5966 * LW1,0181 é o mais indicado, com os maiores valores de R² e d, menores valores de RMSE e AIC, e índice BIAS mais próximo de zero.

Leaf area estimation for Psychotria carthagenensis and Psychotria hoffmannseggiana as a function of linear leaf dimensions

Determining leaf area is important for studies involving plant growth and development. The aim of the present study was to obtain models for estimating leaf area of Psychotria carthagenensis and Psychotria hoffmannseggiana using linear measurements of leaf blades (length and width). Two hundred leaf blades of each species were collected in Parque Estadual Mata do Pau-Ferro in the municipality of Areia, Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. The equations evaluated for producing potential models included the following: linear, quadratic, potential and exponential. The criteria used to determine the best model(s) were as follows: high coefficient of determination (R²), low root-mean-square error (RMSE), low Akaike information criterion (AIC), high Willmott concordance index (d) and a BIAS ratio close to zero. All evaluated models satisfactorily estimated leaf area for the two species, but the equation ŷ = 0.6373 * LW0.9804 was the most appropriate for P. carthagenensis, while ŷ = 0.6235 * LW0.9712 was the most appropriate for P. hoffmannseggiana.

Temperatures and substrates for germination and vigor ofErythroxylum pauferrense Plowman seeds

Erythroxylum pauferrense is an endemic understory plant species of the Northeast Region of Brazil. The species is of great importance to the region and so ecophysiological studies are needed for its preservation. The objective of the present study was to determine the best substrates and temperatures for testing germination and seed vigor of E. pauferrense. An experiment was performed comprising a completely randomized design in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme, with five temperature regimes (20, 25, 30, 35°C constant and 20-30°C alternating) and four types of substrates (paper, vermiculite, sand and commercial substrate). The following characteristics were evaluated: germination percentage, first germination count, germination speed index, mean germination time, seedling length and dry mass (root and shoot). Paper and vermiculite substrates combined with constant temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and alternated between 20-30°C, provide greater seed germination and vigor while 35°C reduces seed physiological quality.