Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
(Reference retrieved automatically from SciELO through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Light utilization strategies and developmental stability of Cordia superba Cham. (Boraginaceae) seedlings grown in different light environments

Full text
Author(s):
Gustavo Maia Souza [1] ; Bruno Depieri Balmant [2] ; Hilton Fabrício Vítolo [3] ; Karina Bornia Pedroso Gomes [4] ; Thiago Martins Florentino [5] ; Tiago Aranda Catuchi [6] ; Willyam de Lima Vieira [7]
Total Authors: 7
Affiliation:
[1] Universidade do Oeste Paulista. Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Vegetal - Brasil
[2] Universidade do Oeste Paulista. Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Vegetal - Brasil
[3] Universidade do Oeste Paulista. Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Vegetal - Brasil
[4] Universidade do Oeste Paulista. Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Vegetal - Brasil
[5] Universidade do Oeste Paulista. Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Vegetal - Brasil
[6] Universidade do Oeste Paulista. Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Vegetal - Brasil
[7] Universidade do Oeste Paulista. Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Vegetal - Brasil
Total Affiliations: 7
Document type: Journal article
Source: Acta Botanica Brasilica; v. 23, n. 2, p. 474-485, 2009-06-00.
Abstract

Photosynthetic light utilization plays a major role in species distribution along gap regeneration gradients. The aim of this study was to evaluate strategies of light utilization and the possible influence on developmental stability of seedlings of the woody pioneer species Cordia superba grown under contrasting light environments. To this end, an experiment was carried out with 12-month-old C. superba seedlings grown under full sunlight and under 85% shade. Physiological aspects such as plant growth and chlorophyll fluorescence, and canopy architecture traits such as leaf angle and leaf area index were analyzed. A developmental stability analysis was also performed by leaf symmetry measurements. The results showed that C. superba seedlings have the capacity to develop different phenotypes in response to contrasting light availability, showing sun and shade plant traits according to respective growth environments. However, the plants grown in full sunlight showed more symmetric leaves than leaves developed in shade conditions. This suggests that, despite the greater environmental heterogeneity of full sunlight in relation to a shade environment, the status of pioneer species of C. superba seems to be a well developed adaptive trait allowing plants to develop a stable phenotype in a changing environment (AU)

FAPESP's process: 03/06939-5 - Seasonal variations and tolerance to hydric deficiency in seedlings of tropical tree species from different successional groups
Grantee:Gustavo Maia Souza
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants