Aluminum interference in leaf hydration in citrus limonia and in photosynthetic performance of Vochysia tucanorum

• Grant number: 18/25658-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2019
• End date: September 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Habermann
• Grantee: Giselle Schwab Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) is toxic to most plants. In acidic soils (pH < 5) it is found in one of its phytotoxic forms, Al3 +. In plants sensitive to Al, the first and most conspicuous toxicity symptom is the inhibition of root growth, where Al is chemically retained. In addition, Al also causes indirect symptoms such as reduced shoot growth. Sensitive plants exposed to Al show reduced CO2 assimilation rate (A) and impairment of photochemical responses, as well as low stomatal conductance (gs). This indicates that retained in the root, Al could change the hydration of the mesophyll, like in soil water deficit situations. In addition, it is also possible that water transport is impaired due to changes in the root xylem vessels that become fibrous in the presence of Al. This suggests a decrease in water transport capacity from roots to the shoots of plants exposed to Al. On the other hand, native Cerrado plants accumulate high concentration of Al in their tissues without structural or physiological damages. In some of these species, it has been found that Al is accumulated in the mesophyll, raising the question that, somehow, Al may be involved in photosynthetic processes. In the present study, we chose 'Rangpur' lime plants (Citrus limonia L.), a sensitive species to Al, and an Al-accumulating species from the Cerrado vegetation, Vochysia tucanorum Mart. (Vochysiaceae). 'Rangpur' lime plants will be grown in nutrient solution with 0 and 1480 ¼M Al, for 90 days. Sap flow sensors (HMR) will be installed in their stems and we hypothesize that plants exposed to Al will show reduced sap flow, as well as reductions in A, gs, transpiration rate (E), leaf water potential (¨w), Relative Water Content (RWC), biomass and shoot growth. All these measurements will be performed at 1, 7, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 Days After Planting (DAP). V. tucanorum plants will be grown in nutrient solution with contrasting Al concentrations. For these plants, measurements of leaf gas exchange rates and photochemical responses will be measured at the same dates described above. We hypothesize that V. tucanorum plants exposed to Al in nutrient solution show higher photosynthetic performance in relation to those not exposed to Al. In addition, V. tucanorum plants will be grown in pots containing calcareous soil and also in nutrient solution absent in Al, and after spraying Al on their leaves we expect that greater photosynthetic performance occur in these plants. At the beginning and at the end of the experiments, plant organ samples will be collected and the concentration of Al will be measured in routine laboratory by the colorimetric method. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BRESSAN, ANNA C. G.; SILVA, GISELLE S.; BANHOS, OTAVIA F. A. A.; TANAKA, FRANCISCO A. O.; HABERMANN, GUSTAVO. Physiological, anatomical and ultrastructural effects of aluminum onStyrax camporum, a native Cerrado woody species. JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH, v. 133, n. 5, p. 625-637, SEP 2020. (14/14386-0, 18/25658-2)

GAVASSI, MARINA ALVES; SILVA, GISELLE SCHWAB; SANTIAGO DA SILVA, CAROLINA DE MARCHI; THOMPSON, ANDREW J.; MACLEOD, KYLE; RAYNER OLIVEIRA, PAULO MARCELO; CAVALHEIRO, MARIANA FEITOSA; DOMINGUES, DOUGLAS SILVA; HABERMANN, GUSTAVO. CED expression is related to increased ABA biosynthesis and stomatal closure under aluminum stres. ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, v. 185, MAY 2021. (15/25409-4, 17/26144-0, 16/10896-0, 18/25658-2, 18/08902-7)

BRESSAN, ANNA CAROLINA GRESSLER; DE OLIVEIRA CARVALHO BITTENCOURT, BRENDA MISTRAL; SILVA, GISELLE SCHWAB; HABERMANN, GUSTAVO. Could the absence of aluminum (Al) impair the development of an Al-accumulating woody species from Brazilian savanna?. THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, v. 33, n. 3, JUL 2021. (18/25658-2, 18/15359-8, 14/14386-0)

GAVASSI, MARINA ALVES; SILVA, GISELLE SCHWAB; SANTIAGO DA SILVA, CAROLINA DE MARCHI; THOMPSON, ANDREW J.; MACLEOD, KYLE; RAYNER OLIVEIRA, PAULO MARCELO; CAVALHEIRO, MARIANA FEITOSA; DOMINGUES, DOUGLAS SILVA; HABERMANN, GUSTAVO. NCED expression is related to increased ABA biosynthesis and stomatal closure under aluminum stress. ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, v. 185, p. 12-pg., 2021-02-06. (16/10896-0, 18/08902-7, 17/26144-0, 18/25658-2, 15/25409-4)

Academic Publications

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

SILVA, Giselle Schwab. Interference of aluminum in leaf hydration in Citrus x limonia and in photosynthetic perfomance in Ilex paraguariensis and Qualea grandiflora. 2022. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências. Rio Claro Rio Claro.