José Vieira Silva

Trocas gasosas e fluorescência da clorofila a em variedades de cana-de-açúcar submetidas à deficiência hídrica

Water stress affects a great part of the worlds agriculture. Thus, this work was conducted to evaluate photosynthetic traits in four varieties of sugarcane (SP79-1011, RB72454, RB98710 and RB92579) submitted to water stress during the early stage of the vegetative period. The plants were cultivated in plastic pots (15 kg of soil). The study was a factorial (4 varieties x 3 levels of soil water content based on available water capacity (AWC)), in a completely randomized design with 5 replications. The levels of water content in the soil were as follows: control (80 to 100% of AWC), moderate water stress (40 to 60% of AWC) and severe water stress (0 to 20% of AWC). Water stress provoked a significant reduction in stomatic condutance (gs), foliar transpiration (E), net photosynthesis (A) and in the water use efficiency of production (WUEy), irrespective of varieties. The varieties SP79-1011 and RB98710 showed greater stomatal sensitivity, reducing gs and E by the 71 days after the beginning of the water stress treatments, even in the control. However, under such conditions A was little affected, indicating that the plants are capable to fixing CO2 with stomata partially closed. Water stress caused a small reduction in the potential photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm ratio) in the studied varieties.

Photosynthesis and Water Relations in Brazilian Sugarcane

The expansion of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) in Brazil has been boosted by the growing demand for bio-fuels all over the world and requires the occupation of new agricultural areas, including regions with unfavorable agro-climatic conditions. This observational study makes an analysis of the relationship between stomatal conductance, gas exchange and photosynthesis in sugarcane fields subject to different ambient conditions and growth phases. It was noted that the stomatal conductance had a much higher control on photosynthesis than on transpiration. Even under high stomatal con- ductance, photosynthesis maintained a high correlation to it. Sugarcane had an instantaneous water use efficiency of ap- proximately 4.4 μmol of fixed CO2 for each mmol of H20 expended in transpiration. Lower leaf water potential, besides leading to an internal reduction of CO2, also reduced the instantaneous carboxylation efficiency, indicating that the photo- synthesis apparatus was also affected. The variety RB92579, seems to have good water absorption system, because even under low leaf water potential, it maintained a good stomatal conductance, with a higher transpiration and photosynthesis than the others varieties. These results suggest that this variety has a tolerance mechanism to endure rather than avoid drought.

Expression profiles of sugarcane under drought conditions: Variation in gene regulation

Abstract Drought is a major factor in decreased sugarcane productivity because of the resulting morphophysiological effects that it causes. Gene expression studies that have examined the influence of water stress in sugarcane have yielded divergent results, indicating the absence of a fixed pattern of changes in gene expression. In this work, we investigated the expression profiles of 12 genes in the leaves of a drought-tolerant genotype (RB72910) of sugarcane and compared the results with those of other studies. The genotype was subjected to 80–100% water availability (control condition) and 0–20% water availability (simulated drought). To analyze the physiological status, the SPAD index, Fv/Fm ratio, net photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (g s) and stomatal transpiration (E) were measured. Total RNA was extracted from leaves and the expression of SAMDC, ZmPIP2-1 protein, ZmTIP4-2 protein, WIP protein, LTP protein, histone H3, DNAj, ferredoxin I, β-tubulin, photosystem I, gene 1 and gene 2 was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Important differences in the expression profiles of these genes were observed when compared with other genotypes, suggesting that complex defense mechanisms are activated in response to water stress. However, there was no recognizable pattern for the changes in expression of the different proteins associated with tolerance to drought stress.

Morphological and photosynthetic adaptations of Tabebuia aurea seedlings in the nursery

Tabebuia aurea (Benth. & Hook. f. ex S. Moore) (Bignoniaceae) is a boreal species common in Brazil. It is used for ornamental parks and along sidewalks. Its timber is also used for furniture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nursery shading on the growth and photosynthesis of T. aurea and their photosynthetic adaptation after being transferred to direct sunlight. The T. aurea seedlings were grown under 0, 50, 70 or 95% shade. The photosynthetic active radiation and leaf gas exchange were measured over two distinct periods: 51 (young seedlings) and 70 days after having been sown under each shade treatment. Immediately after the measurements were taken, the seedlings were transferred into full sunlight and the measurements were repeated two times after 15 min and 3 days under ambient sunlight. T. aurea seedlings showed satisfactory growth up to 50% shade in the nursery, which could be verified both by growth measurement and by total biomass accumulation. Shading greater than 70% reduced the number of leaves, the leaf area and the stem diameter in relation to plants exposed to full sunlight. The results suggest that T. aurea seedlings should be grown under full sunlight or under shading up to 50% to maximize their growth in the nursery and to minimize stress when transferring the seedlings to their final planting sites.

Photosynthetic capacity and water use efficiency in Ricinus communis (L.) under drought stress in semi-humid and semi-arid areas

Castor bean is one of the crops with potential to provide raw material for production of oils for biodiesel. This species possess adaptive mechanisms for maintaining the water status when subjected to drought stress. A better understanding these mechanisms under field conditions can unravel the survival strategies used by this species. This study aimed to compare the physiological adaptations of Ricinus communis (L.) in two regions with different climates, the semi-arid and semi-humid subject to water stress. The plants showed greater vapor pressure deficit during the driest hours of the day, which contributed to higher values of the leaf temperature and leaf transpiration, however, the VPD(leaf-air) had the greatest effect on plants in the semi-arid region. In both regions, between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., the plants presented reduction in the rates of photosynthesis and intracellular CO2 concentration in response to stomatal closure. During the dry season in the semi-arid region, photoinhibition occurred in the leaves of castor bean between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. These results suggest that castor bean plants possess compensatory mechanisms for drought tolerance, such as: higher stomatal control and maintenance of photosynthetic capacity, allowing the plant to survive well in soil with low water availability.