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This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exogenous application of salicylic acid on the photosynthetic metabolism and quality of Eugenia myrcianthes seedlings under water deficit and their recovery potential after rehydration. Two water regimes were evaluated, as follows: control - plants irrigated daily (I) and water deficit (S), with and without the application of 400 mg L-1 of salicylic acid (SA), totaling four treatments. Seedlings were evaluated at three times: at the beginning of the experiment (T0), that is, when the irrigation was interrupted; when the photosynthetic rate reached values close to zero (P0 - 15 days after irrigation interruption), that is, when irrigation restarted; and when the photosynthetic rate was recovered (REC). Eugenia myrcianthes seedlings were negatively affected when subjected to water restriction; salicylic acid attenuated the damage to the photosynthetic apparatus by acting positively on the relative water content in the leaves, SPAD index, photosynthetic metabolism, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase enzyme activity, and seedling growth in P0. Eugenia myrchiantes presented potential for recovery after resumption irrigation. The application of SA contributed to the maintenance of gas exchanges, photochemical processes and quality of E. myrcianthes seedlings during and after water deficit, suggesting the promotion of plant resistance induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of shading in reducing the stressful effect of water restriction on photosynthetic and antioxidant metabolism, favoring the growth of Ormosia arborea seedlings and the recovery metabolic. The shadings levels studied were: 0, 30 and 70%. Two water regimes were implemented: control, in which the plants were irrigated at 75% of soil water retention capacity and water restriction, in which the irrigation was suspended until the photosynthetic rate reached values close to zero (P0), period at which the seedlings were re-irrigated. There were two evaluation periods: P0 and recovery. We observed that water restriction reduced photosynthetic metabolism, growth and quality of O. arborea seedlings by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The seedlings present higher quality index, stomatal conductance, intrinsic carboxylation efficiency and transpiration when cultivated under 70% shading in recovery. The stressful effect of water restriction was mitigated by the shading of 70%, where the seedlings were able to recover, resuming their photosynthetic metabolism and quality after resumption of irrigation. In addition, 0% shading is not indicated for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water deficiency is a major abiotic stress that limits biomass production and drives plant species distributions. We evaluate the effects of water deficiency on ecophysiological and biochemical parameters of seedlings of Tabebuia aurea. Plants were subjected to daily watering (control) and to stress by soil water deficiency for 29 days. Leaf area, plant biomass, gas exchange, SPAD index, maximum quantum yield (Fv / Fm), quantum yield of PSII (FPSII), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and L-ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, lipid peroxidation, and proline content were recorded. Plants responded to water deficit by reducing leaf area and accumulating proline. Stomatal conductance was reduced to limit the water loss by transpiration. However, limiting CO2 uptake caused reduction in photosynthesis and biomass. The excess of energy unutilized by photosynthesis reduced SPAD index and FPSII. As a result, we observed an increase in SOD and APX activity, protecting chloroplast membranes from further damages caused by lipid peroxidation. Our results indicate that T. aurea have capacity to survive under water deficiency reducing stomatal aperture, but affecting the rate of CO2 assimilation. Nevertheless, plants showed mechanisms to preventing damages to the photosynthetic apparatus. Such plasticity is an important adaptation for plants growing in dry environmental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthesis of species of Anibae in response to the exposure to contrasting light environments. Ecophysiological traits and the light environment have implications for the establishment of forest plantations. The aim of this study was to investigate the photosynthetic activity of Aniba canelilla and A. rosaeodora in response to changes in the availability of light in the field. Gas exchange, content of chlorophylls (ICC) and photochemical performance (FV/FM) were measured in leaves acclimated in the shade during 300 days, after in the full sun (28 days) and again in the shade by 28 days. The photosynthesis, ICC and FV/FM of A. canelilla and A. rosaeodora were negatively affected in full sunlight, but the plants recovered when submitted to shade. Photosynthesis, ICC and FV/FM were twice as high in shade plants. Aniba rosaeodora presented photosynthetic performance twice higher than A. canelilla. Differences in photosynthetic responses to light suggest that species could occupy different succession “niches” in enrichment plantation, and plasticity (recovery-mediated) implies acclimatization under variable light environments. The fact that the studied species of Anibae have differences in plasticity for light should be viewed with caution to suggest conventional plantations, but it reinforce the indication for enrichment plantations in forest sites with variations in the availability of light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]