Partition of carbon and nitrogen in coffee in response to fruit load

• Grant number: 17/23613-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2018
• End date: July 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Pant Physiology
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Mazzafera
• Grantee: Marcio Souza da Silva
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The source-sink ratio modulates the redistribution of C and N during coffee development, and may vary depending on the fruits load. As a consequence, not only the rate of photosynthesis should vary, but the demand for N. Although some studies on the variation of the fruits load in photosynthesis have already been conducted, little has been done about the distribution of C and much less of N. This is the objective of this project, that is, to characterize the distribution profile of C and N between different compartments (leaves developed in nodes with fruits, leaves developed in nodes without fruits, new leaves, branch supporting these leaves, endosperm/fruits) as a function of the fruits load and along the frutification stages. The hypothesis to be tested is that the distribution of C and N between these compartments is dynamic and modulated by fruits load and vegetative growth. The experiment will be developed in a six-year-old coffee plantation and, in the 'chumbinho' stage, the fruits origining from the first and other flowering will be removed simulating 100%, 60%, 30% and 0% of fruit load. The compartments will be determined: N-total, nitrate, total soluble protein, total soluble amino acids, amino acid profile and sugars (starch, sucrose, reducing sugars). In all leaf compartments will be determined the number, length and width of leaves, the contents of chlorophyll A and B, carotenoids and reading with SPAD Minolta. The length of the sections of the branches supporting the mentioned leaves will be determined, as well as cross section for starch visualization. With these data we intend to verify not only the modulation of the C and N fractionation, but also the dynamics between the N-compounds and sugars, since the metabolisms of both are strongly related.ATTENTION: It should be clarified that this MsC project will use the same site experimental field that the project of the student Marina Rodrigues, guided by Prof. Jose Laércio Favarin ("Redistribution of nutrients in arabica coffee in response to the phenology of fruiting"). That is, there is no overlap of study, but complementarity. While one student (Marina) will study the remobilization of mineral nutrients, the other (Marcio) will study the remobilization of organic compounds (sugars and N-compounds). The experiment will be conducted in another state (Minas Gerais - Brazil) and the supervisors found it reasonable to use the same experimental area to study two subjects that need attention and therefore planned the two theses in that way. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SILVA, Marcio Souza da. Partition of carbon and nitrogen in coffee arabica in response to fruit load. 2019. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) Piracicaba.