Growth, leaf gas exchange and mycorrhizal colonization of three medicinal species submitted to different irradiance levels / Crescimento, trocas gasosas foliares e colonização micorrizica de três espécies de plantas medicinais submetidas a diferentes níveis de irradiância

This study o evaluated growth, leaf gas exchange and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi root colonization in three medicinal plant species under different irradiance intensities. Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L.G.Lohmann, Mikania laevigata Sch.Bip. ex Baker and Varronia curassavica Jacq. were propagated by cutting and cultivated for 120 days in artificially shaded environments using black shade-type screens, obtaining four irradiance levels: 100%, 70%, 50% and 30%. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 x 4 factorial scheme (three plant species and four irradiation levels) with seven replicates. The three medicinal species showed higher liquid assimilation, mass growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi root colonization rates when exposed to environments with 70% light availability. In relation to physiological responses, V. curassavica presented higher photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration when submitted to 70% irradiance, being able to be cultivated in more open environments with higher irradiation levels. Conversely F. chica and M. laevigata presented shade tolerance characteristics. At the initial growth phase, the results obtained can be used as indicators to recommend the ideal cultivation environment for these species in agroforestry systems.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento, as trocas gasosas foliares e a colonização por fungos micorrízicos arbusculares em três espécies de plantas medicinais, sob diferentes intensidades de irradiância. Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L.G. Ohmmann, Mikania laevigata Sch.Bip. ex Baker e Varronia curassavica Jacq. foram propagadas por estaquia e cultivadas por 120 dias em ambientes artificialmente sombreados, utilizando telas do tipo sombrite, em quatro níveis de irradiância, 100%, 70%, 50% e 30%. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3 x 4 (três espécies de plantas e quatro níveis de irradiação) com sete repetições. As três espécies medicinais avaliadas apresentaram maiores taxas de assimilação líquida, crescimento em massa e colonização radicular por fungos micorrízicos arbusculares quando expostas a ambientes com 70% de disponibilidade de luz. Em relação às respostas fisiológicas, V. curassavica apresentou maior taxa fotossintética, condutância estomática e transpiração quando submetidas a 70% de irradiância, podendo ser cultivada em ambientes mais abertos e com maiores níveis de radiação. Por outro lado, F. chica e M. laevigata apresentaram características de plantas tolerantes à sombra. Os resultados obtidos na fase inicial de crescimento podem ser utilizados como um indicador para recomendar o ambiente de plantio dessas três espécies medicinais em sistemas agroflorestais.

Different salt concentrations induce alterations both in photosynthetic parameters and salt gland activity in leaves of the mangrove Avicennia schaueriana.

Mangrove sites are constantly under tidal regimes, where there is variation of dissolved oxygen and saline content in water. This study evaluated the effects of varying salinity in Avicennia schaueriana, an abundant species in the sea-mangrove-river interface. Seedlings of A. schaueriana were harvested at the riverbank and placed in different saline and nutrient solutions in a greenhouse in order to simulate a saline flow. After 7 acclimatization days, plants were exposed to the following saline concentrations: 0, 50, 170 and 250mM NaCl, for a period of 30 days. After this, leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, Falker chlorophyll index, leaf ultrastructure and micromorphology were evaluated. The highest saline concentration affected mainly the CO2 assimilation, internal CO2 concentration and the intrinsic efficiency of water use. The chlorophyll a fluorescence and Falker index were not significantly affected by any of the saline conditions, however chloroplast was damaged. Concomitantly, leaf salt glands clearly evidenced a higher salt secretion, when plants were submitted to the greatest saline concentration. The results indicated that A. schaueriana tolerates different salt concentration in the mangrove and excretes salt excess by salt gland, and this can attenuate the saline stress. However, when exposed to longer periods of higher salt fluxes the plant growth can be affected.