The effect of the seasonal variation was investigated in tubers carbohydrates concentration, biomass allocation and fotossinthetic pigments contents of the rupicolous Sinningia aghensis. The starch varied 8% of dry mass (DM) in the summer to 80% DM in the winter that was inversely correlated with the precipitation. That increase of the starch in the winter occurred to the sucrose and glucose as well as the aerial organs allocation detriment. The starch decline in the spring has been associated with the flowering stage of which reflected in the ratio aerial organs:tubers and carotenoids increase. The maintenance of the aerial organs in the winter allied to the water content leaf constant at all times of the year suggests the presence of leaf metabolic that should play the protection role against unfavorable environmental conditions such as drought.
carbohydrates; ecophysiology; Gesneriaceae; seasonality
