Marcelo Antonio Tomaz

Sustained Photosynthetic Performance of Coffea spp. under Long-Term Enhanced [CO2]

Coffee is one of the world’s most traded agricultural products. Modeling studies have predicted that climate change will have a strong impact on the suitability of current cultivation areas, but these studies have not anticipated possible mitigating effects of the elevated atmospheric [CO2] because no information exists for the coffee plant. Potted plants from two genotypes of Coffea arabica and one of C. canephora were grown under controlled conditions of irradiance (800 μmol m-2 s-1), RH (75%) and 380 or 700 μL CO2 L-1 for 1 year, without water, nutrient or root development restrictions. In all genotypes, the high [CO2] treatment promoted opposite trends for stomatal density and size, which decreased and increased, respectively. Regardless of the genotype or the growth [CO2], the net rate of CO2 assimilation increased (34-49%) when measured at 700 than at 380 μL CO2 L-1. This result, together with the almost unchanged stomatal conductance, led to an instantaneous water use efficiency increase. The results also showed a reinforcement of photosynthetic (and respiratory) components, namely thylakoid electron transport and the activities of RuBisCo, ribulose 5-phosphate kinase, malate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase, what may have contributed to the enhancements in the maximum rates of electron transport, carboxylation and photosynthetic capacity under elevated [CO2], although these responses were genotype dependent. The photosystem II efficiency, energy driven to photochemical events, non-structural carbohydrates, photosynthetic pigment and membrane permeability did not respond to [CO2] supply. Some alterations in total fatty acid content and the unsaturation level of the chloroplast membranes were noted but, apparently, did not affect photosynthetic functioning. Despite some differences among the genotypes, no clear species-dependent responses to elevated [CO2] were observed. Overall, as no apparent sign of photosynthetic down-regulation was found, our data suggest that Coffea spp. plants may successfully cope with high [CO2] under the present experimental conditions.

Protective Response Mechanisms to Heat Stress in Interaction with High [CO2] Conditions in Coffea spp.

Modeling studies have predicted that coffee crop will be endangered by future global warming, but recent reports highlighted that high [CO2] can mitigate heat impacts on coffee. This work aimed at identifying heat protective mechanisms promoted by CO2 in Coffea arabica (cv. Icatu and IPR108) and Coffea canephora cv. Conilon CL153. Plants were grown at 25/20°C (day/night), under 380 or 700 μL CO2 L−1, and then gradually submitted to 31/25, 37/30, and 42/34°C. Relevant heat tolerance up to 37/30°C for both [CO2] and all coffee genotypes was observed, likely supported by the maintenance or increase of the pools of several protective molecules (neoxanthin, lutein, carotenes, α-tocopherol, HSP70, raffinose), activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT), and the upregulated expression of some genes (ELIP, Chaperonin 20). However, at 42/34°C a tolerance threshold was reached, mostly in the 380-plants and Icatu. Adjustments in raffinose, lutein, β-carotene, α-tocopherol and HSP70 pools, and the upregulated expression of genes related to protective (ELIPS, HSP70, Chape 20, and 60) and antioxidant (CAT, CuSOD2, APX Cyt, APX Chl) proteins were largely driven by temperature. However, enhanced [CO2] maintained higher activities of GR (Icatu) and CAT (Icatu and IPR108), kept (or even increased) the Cu,Zn-SOD, APX, and CAT activities, and promoted a greater upregulation of those enzyme genes, as well as those related to HSP70, ELIPs, Chaperonins in CL153, and Icatu. These changes likely favored the maintenance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at controlled levels and contributed to mitigate of photosystem II photoinhibition at the highest temperature. Overall, our results highlighted the important role of enhanced [CO2] on the coffee crop acclimation and sustainability under predicted future global warming scenarios.

Efficiency and response of conilon coffee clones to phosphorus fertilization

Studies on nutritional efficiency of phosphorus in conilon coffee plants are important tools to unravel the high limitation that natural low levels of this nutrient in soil impose to these species cultivars. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the nutritional efficiency and the response to phosphorus of conilon coffee clones. Plants were managed during 150 days in pots containing 10 dm 3 of soil, in greenhouse. A factorial scheme 13 x 2 was used, with three replications, being the factors: 13 clones constituting the clonal cultivar “V itoria Incaper 8142” and two levels of phosphate fertilization (0% and 150% of the P 2 O 5 usualy recommended), in a completely randomized design (CRD). The results indicate a differentiated response of dry matter production and of phosphorus content on each level of phosphate fertilization for the conilon cof fee clones and that CV-04, CV-05 and CV-08 clones are nutritionally ef ficient and responsive to the phosphate fertilization.

Eficiência de absorção e utilização de boro, zinco, cobre e manganês em mudas enxertadas de cafeeiro

Efficiency of absorption and utilization of boron, zinc, copper and manganese in grafted coffee seedlings Studying nutritional efficiency of grafted coffee plants is important for the selection of graft/ rootstock combinations, aiming to achieve better plant development and yield. The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic differences for B, Zn, Cu and Mn absorption and utilization efficiencies of grafted coffee seedlings. The experiment was conducted with seedlings planted in 20 L pots with a substrate consisting of soil, sand, and manure in the proportion of 3:1:1, in which they kept for 18 months, until harvest. Four genotypes of Coffea arabica L. were used as grafts: cultivars Catuai Vermelho IAC 15 (‘Catuai 15) and Oeiras MG 6851 (‘Oeiras’), and hybrids H419-10-3-4-4 (‘H419’) and H514-5-5-3 (‘H514’). All genotypes were obtained from the EPAMIG/UFV breeding program. Five half-sibling progenies of clones of Coffea canephora Pierre ex Froenher cv. Conilon were used as rootstocks: ‘ES 21’, ‘ES 36’, ‘ES 26’, ‘ES 23’ and ‘ES

Influência da aplicação de dois resíduos industriais nas propriedades químicas de dois solos cultivados com café arábica

The large amount of industrial waste which currently causes serious environmental problems has demonstrated the need for the appropriate use of those materials which not only reduce environmental impact but have shown potential for agricultural use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical effects of different amounts of slag and magnesium oxide on two soils planted with coffea arabica. The study was carried out using pots of 10 dm3 in a greenhouse at the Center for Agrarian Sciences of the Federal University of Espirito Santo. The experimental design was of randomized blocks with a factorial distribution of 2 x 3 x 6, and three replications, the factors being: two soils (dystrophic red-yellow clay loam and dystrophic red-yellow medium-texture loam), three additives (limestone as control and slag and magnesium oxide as waste), six amounts of corrective materials (0; 25; 50; 75; 100 and 125% of the required liming). After 180 days of culture, analysis of pH, H+ + Al3+, Al3+, Ca2+ e Mg2+ was carried out. The results showed that applications of increasing doses of magnesium oxide and slag, up to the limit of this study, further a decrease in soil acidity. Magnesium oxide has shown the greatest potential for soil-acidity correction and also as a source of magnesium for the soil.

Crop yield bienniality in groups of genotypes of conilon coffee

]Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Producao Vegetal, Centro de Ciencias Agrarias da Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, CCA-UFES, Alto Universitario, Cx. P. 16, CEP: 29500-000, Alegre, Espirito Santo, Brazil. 2Departamento de Producao Vegetal, Centro de Ciencias Agrarias da Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, CCA-UFES, Alto Universitario, Cx. P. 16, CEP: 29500-000, Alegre, Espirito Santo, Brazil. 3Instituto Capixaba de Pesquisa, Assistencia Tecnica e Extensao Rural, INCAPER, Rua Afonso Sarlo, 160, Bento Fereira, CEP: 29052-010, Vitoria, Espirito Santo, Brazil. 4Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria, EMBRAPA CAFE/INCAPER, Parque Estacao Biologica, PqEB, s/n, CEP: 70770-901, Brasilia, Brazil.

Differences between genotypes of Jatropha curcas L. are evidenced for absorption and use of nitrogen

The objective of this study was to quantify the nutritional efficiency and responsiveness in relation to nitrogen of twelve genotypes of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) grown in soil without nitrogen supply and also with three levels of fertilization in a controlled environment. The experiment was conducted in factorial scheme 12×4 with four replications, the factors being: 12 genotypes of physic nut and four levels of nitrogen fertilization, studied in a randomized design. The plants were grown in pots, without restrictions, for 100 days and their dry matter and N contents were evaluated (for roots, leaves and total). Subsequently, the efficiency ratios for absorption, translocation, use and responsiveness in relation to the N supply were calculated. Overall, the nutritional efficiencies for nitrogen increase linearly with the increase of nitrogen supply in the soil. The genotypes CNPAE 161-II, CNPAE 167-II, CNPAE 180-I, CNPAE 255-I and CNPAE 300-I were classified as efficient and responsive to nitrogen fertilization being highlighted for plant breeding programs aiming to improve this agronomic trait

Aluminum stress in Crambe abyssinica Hochst

espanolCrambe es una especie sensible al aluminio intercambiable que requiere suelos bien fertilizados y corregidos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar distintas concentraciones de aluminio en la germinacion y desarrollo de crambe. El experimento para germinacion se realizo con un diseno de bloques completos al azar con arreglo factorial de 5x2, con cuatro repeticiones. Las cinco concentraciones de Al3+ fueron 0, 15, 40, 80 y 120 mg dm-3 y las temperaturas de 20 y 30° C. El experimento para desarrollo de la planta se realizo con un diseno de bloques completos al azar con cinco concentraciones de Al3+ y cuatro repeticiones. Los parametros evaluados fueron porcentaje de germinacion, crecimiento de las plantulas y biomasa. Se analizo la tasa relativa de crecimiento, altura de planta, numero de hojas, area foliar total, area foliar especifica, materia seca en cada compartimento de la planta (raiz, tallo y hojas), razon de area foliar, razon de masa de raiz, tallo y hojas. El porcentaje de germinacion aumento a los 2 °C. La mayor concentracion de aluminio afecto el crecimiento, produccion de materia seca y desarrollo de hojas. Estos resultados sugieren que el cramble es sensible al aluminio intercambiable. EnglishCrambe is a sensitive specie to exchangeable aluminum, it require a well-fertilized and corrected soil. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of aluminum presence, in different concentrations, in the substrate on the germination and development of crambe. The experiment was carried out as a randomized complete block design with a 5x2 factorial arrangement in four replicates. The five concentrations of Al3+ were 0, 15, 40, 80 and 120 mg dm-3 Al3+ and two temperatures (20 and 30 °C), with four replications. The relative growth rate, plant height, leaf number, total leaf area, specific leaf area, dry matter in each plant compartment (root, stem and leaf), leaf area ratio, stem mass ratio and leaf mass ratio were evaluate. Germination was favored by 20 oC. The limitation on plant growth was greater as the concentration of aluminum increased, presenting losses in growth, as well of production of dry matter and leaf development, also causing changes in the patterns of biomass allocation between the plant compartments.

Reaction of Cultivar Coffee 'Vitória INCAPER 8142' of Cornillon to Parasitism of Meloidogyne exigua

ABSTRACT Among factors limiting to the yield of the coffee crop are the diseases, deserving prominence the nematode Meloidogyne exigua . The objective of this work was to assess the level of resistance of 13 clones (1V, 2V, 3V, 4V, 5V, 6V, 7V, 8V, 9V, 10V, 11V, 12V and 13V) wich composes the clonal variety ‘Vitoria INCAPER 8142’ of conilon coffee ( Coffea canephora Pierre), to M. exigua . The 13 clones and more one control ( C. arabica , cv. Catuai IAC-44) were inoculated with 7,000 individuals of M. exigua . After 180 days of inoculation, the final population of nematodes per root system was determined. For determination of the resistance levels, both the reproduction factor and the reduction of the reproduction factor were considered. The variety ‘Vitoria INCAPER 8142’ presented clones with different levels of resistance. Clones 1V, 4V, 7V, 9V and 12V behaved as susceptible or efficient host and the other clones were resistant or non-efficient host. Key words: Coffea canephora, clones, robust coffee, resistance, root-knot nematode.

Coffee Responses to Drought, Warming and High [CO 2 ] in a Context of Future Climate Change Scenarios

Climate variability strongly determines agricultural productivity, further causing important economic and social impacts. In a context of global climate changes, the continuous enhancement of agricultural production in the coming years is a major challenge for plant science research. Coffee, one of the most important agricultural commodities worldwide, is grown in more than 80 countries in the tropical region. Several estimates point to a strong reduction on both coffee yields and suitable areas in a near future, mostly related to predicted rising temperature, but also due to changes in intra- and inter-annual rainfall amounts and distributions. Nonetheless, recent findings from our team has shown that the coffee plant is more resilient that usually accepted, and that the negative impacts of rising temperature, at physiological and biochemical levels, were strongly mitigated by enhanced air [CO2], which is considered one of the promoting agents of temperature rise. Also, the identification of ecophysiological and molecular traits that can promote plant acclimation to warming, in particular those related to the C-assimilation pathway, would foster the selection of more adapted/tolerant genotypes. In this context, this work aims at envisage leaf physiological responses in Coffea spp. subjected to supra-optimal temperatures, increased [CO2], and water shortage conditions, contributing to this crop sustainability.