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Relações hídricas, metabolismo fotossintético e medidas biométricas em plantas de maracujazeiros (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.): plantas seminais e plantas enxertadas

RESUMO

A utilização da técnica de enxertia em maracujazeiros tem sido uma estratégia promissora para o desenvolvimento de cultivares tradicionais de maracujazeiros que, por sua vez, apresentam raízes suscetíveis a vários patógenos do solo. Contudo, não se conhece o efeito desta técnica sobre as trocas gasosas, as relações hídricas e a eficiência fotoquímica em plantas desta espécie. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a capacidade fotossintética, as relações hídricas e o crescimento de maracujazeiros propagados por semente (PPS) e propagados por enxertia (PPG), submetidos à limitação da disponibilidade de água no solo. O presente estudo foi realizado em casa de vegetação, utilizando mudas de Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa e mudas enxertadas [Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa (enxerto) e Passiflora mucronata (porta-enxerto)] cultivadas em potes de 3,5 dm3. Aos 37 dias após o transplantio (DAT), foi suspensa a irrigação em metade das plantas propagadas por sementes (PPSDS, plantas propagadas por sementes em condições de deficiência hídrica) e em metade das plantas propagadas por enxertia (PPGDS, plantas propagadas por enxertia em condições de deficiência hídrica). Em um outro grupo de plantas, o solo foi mantido na capacidade de campo. As trocas gasosas, a emissão da fluorescência da clorofila, a estimativa do teor de clorofilas e os potenciais hídricos foliar e do solo foram determinadas durante o experimento. Nas plantas PPSDS e PPGDS, a restrição hídrica reduziu os valores da condutância estomática, o rendimento quântico incidente (Φi) e a massa seca da raiz em relação aos respectivos controles mantidos irrigados (PPS e PPG). Tanto para as PPSDS e PPGDS, até os valores de -50 kPa de potencial hídrico do solo, houve redução da taxa fotossintética em 50%, sem haver redução do potencial hídrico foliar. Em relação às plantas enxertadas, as plantas propagadas por semente apresentaram maiores valores das medidas biométricas, tanto cultivadas na condição de capacidade de campo, como cultivadas na condição de limitação de água no substrato. A técnica de enxertia não comprometeu o estado hídrico, a emissão da fluorescência e as trocas gasosas.

Palavras-chave:
condutância estomática; estresse hídrico; fluorescência; fotossíntese; potencial hídrico foliar; transpiração

ABSTRACT

Grafting has been used in passion fruit as a promising strategy for the improvement of traditional cultivars, which have roots susceptible to several soil pathogens. However, the effect of grafting on gas exchange, water relations, and photochemical efficiency in passion fruit is still not understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the photosynthetic capacity, water relations, and the growth of seed-propagated (PPS) and grafted (PPG) passion fruit under drought stress. Ungrafted seedlings of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa and seedlings of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa (scion) grafted onto Passiflora mucronata (rootstock) were cultivated in a greenhouse in 3.5-dm3 pots. At 37 days after transplanting (DAT), one-half of the seed-propagated plants had the watering suspended (PPSDS, plant propagated by seed under drought stress) as well as one-half of the grafted plants (PPGDS, plant propagated by grafting under drought stress). Another group of plants was kept in soil at field capacity. Gas exchanges, chlorophyll fluorescence emission, chlorophyll content, and leaf and soil water potentials were determined during the experiment. Drought-stressed plants (PPSDS and PPGDS) reduced the stomatal conductance, incident quantum yield (Φi), and root dry mass in relation to the respective watered controls (PPS and PPG). Up to -50 kPa of soil water potential, both PPSDS and PPGDS reduced the photosynthetic rate by 50%, without reducing leaf water potential. The seed-propagated plants showed higher growth characteristics than the grafted plants in both conditions, at the field capacity and in the substrate with water limitation. Grafting showed no effect on water status, fluorescence emission, and gas exchange.

Keywords:
stomatal conductance; water stress; fluorescence; photosynthesis; leaf water potential; transpiration.

INTRODUCTION

Brazil is the world's largest producer of yellow passion fruit, with an approximate production of 776,000 tons in approximately 58,000 ha (Agrianual, 2015Agrianual (2015) Anuário da Agricultura Brasileira. São Paulo, Instituto AgraFNP. 344p.). The states of Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, and Minas Gerais are the main producers in the country. However, the expansion of the passion fruit cultivation area has been followed by the onset and aggravation of various diseases (Fischer et al., 2005Fischer IH, Lourenço SA, Martins MC, Kimati H & Amorim L (2005) Seleção de plantas resistentes e de fungicidas para o controle da podridão do colo do maracujazeiro causada por Nectria hematococca. Fitopatologia Brasileira, 30:250-258.). One of the main diseases affecting yellow passion fruit is the collar rot caused by the fungus Fusarium solani (Fischer & Rezende, 2008Fischer IH & Rezende JAM (2008) Diseases of passion flower (Passiflora spp.). Pest Technology, 2:01-19.). This disease has already been reported in Passiflora edulis, P. edulis f. flavicarpa, P. alata, P. ligularis, P. maliformis, and P. quadrangularis (Fischer & Rezende, 2008Fischer IH & Rezende JAM (2008) Diseases of passion flower (Passiflora spp.). Pest Technology, 2:01-19.), causing a decrease in yield and the continuous migration of the crop to pathogen-free regions (Bueno et al., 2014Bueno CJ, Fischer IH, Rosa DD, Firmino AC, Harakava R, Oliveira CMG & Furtado EL (2014) Fusarium solani f. sp. passiflorae: a new forma specialis causing collar rot in yellow passionfruit. Plant Pathology, 63:382-389.).

The main control practices are preventive and have not been effective in eliminating the pathogen once it is already in the soil (Roncatto et al., 2004Roncatto G, Oliveira JC, Ruggiero C, Nogueira Filho GC, Centurion MAPC & Ferreira FR (2004) Comportamento de maracujazeiros (Passiflora spp.) quanto à morte prematura. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura , 26:552-555.). Thus, the use of resistant rootstocks can be an interesting alternative for the disease control (Silva et al., 2013Silva AS, Oliveira EJ, Haddad F, Laranjeira FF, Jesus ON, Oliveira SAS, Costa MAPC & Freitas JXF (2013) Identification of passion fruit genotypes resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Passiflorae. Tropical Plant Pathology , 38:236-242.; Santos et al., 2004Santos VA, Ramos JD, Chagas EA, Dias MM, Locatelli G & Oliveira MC (2014) Grafting of different combinations of scions and rootstocks of passion fruit plants. Semina, Ciências Agrárias, 35:1201-1208.).

Production of passion fruit seedlings by grafting onto rooted soft cuttings is technically feasible (Cavichioli et al., 2010Cavichioli JC, Kasai FS & Nasser MD (2014) Productivity and physical characteristics of fruits os Passiflora edulis grafted Passiflora gibertii in different planting densities. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, 36:243-247., Corrêa et al., 2010Corrêa LS, Cavichioli JC, Oliveira JC & Boliani AC (2010) Use of humid chamber in conventional grafting of yellow passion fruit on three rootstocks. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura , 32:591-598. ; Chaves et al. al., 2004Chaves RCC, Junqueira NTJ, Manica I, Peixoto JR, Pereira AV & Fialho JF (2004) Enxertia em maracujazeiro-azedo em estacas herbáceas enraizadas de espécies de passifloras nativas. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura , 26:120-123.). Therefore, this technique can be used to produce seedlings for commercial crops. In São Francisco do Itabapoana, RJ, farmers have been using Passiflora mucronata as rootstock to reduce the effects of soil diseases on yield of passion fruit. The results of the introduction of rustic rootstocks such as P. mucronata are positive since the graft has no effect on fruit commercial quality (Salazar et al., 2016Salazar AH, Silva DFP & Bruckner CH (2016) Effect of two wild rootstocks of genus Passiflora L. on the content of antioxidants and fruit quality of yellow passion fruit. Bragantia, 75:164-172.).

Drought stress is one of the environmental factors that can affect the growth and development of passion fruit (Menzel et al., 1986Menzel CM, Simpson & Dowling AJ (1986) Water relations in passionfruit: efffect of moisture stress on growth, flowering and nutrient uptake. Scientia Horticulturae, 29:239-249.; Staveley & Wolstenholme, 1990Staveley GW & Wolstenholme BN (1990) Effects of water stress on growth and flowering of Passiflora edulis (Sims) grafted to P. Caerulea L. Acta Horticulturae, 275:551-558.; Menzel & Simpson, 1994Menzel CM & Simpson DR (1994) Passionfruit. In: Schaffer B & Andersen PC (Eds.) Handbook of environmental physiology of fruit crops. Boca Raton, CRC Press. p.225-241.). In plants of the hybrid E-23 (purple passion fruit x yellow passion fruit, both P. edulis Sims) grafted onto P. edulis flavicarpa, the net photosynthetic rate decreased at leaf water potentials (Ψleaf) below -1.5 MPa (Menzel & Simpson, 1994Menzel CM & Simpson DR (1994) Passionfruit. In: Schaffer B & Andersen PC (Eds.) Handbook of environmental physiology of fruit crops. Boca Raton, CRC Press. p.225-241.). According to the authors, water restriction may decrease passion fruit production due to leaf area reduction and floral bud initiation. The growth of new leaves reduced at Ψleaf below -1.5MPa and leaves dropped at Ψleaf = -2.0MPa (Menzel & Simpson, 1994Menzel CM & Simpson DR (1994) Passionfruit. In: Schaffer B & Andersen PC (Eds.) Handbook of environmental physiology of fruit crops. Boca Raton, CRC Press. p.225-241.). Menzel et al. (1986Menzel CM, Simpson & Dowling AJ (1986) Water relations in passionfruit: efffect of moisture stress on growth, flowering and nutrient uptake. Scientia Horticulturae, 29:239-249.) discussed that drought stress influences the development of nodes in passion fruit and, consequently, affects its yield. Staveley & Wolstenholme (1990Staveley GW & Wolstenholme BN (1990) Effects of water stress on growth and flowering of Passiflora edulis (Sims) grafted to P. Caerulea L. Acta Horticulturae, 275:551-558.) pointed out that drought stress considered moderate (Ψsoil = -0.2 to -0.5MPa) in the critical phenological states of the species may cause severe yield reduction.

There is no information about the differences in water relations between seed-propagated plants and grafted plants in passion fruit. Most studies have focused on the comparison of efficiency in water relations between rootstocks that have different effects on grafts (Cohen & Naor, 2002Cohen S & Naor A (2002) The effect of three rootstocks on water use, canopy conductance and hydraulic parameters of apple trees and predicting canopy from hydraulic conductance. Plant, Cell and Environment, 25:17-28.; Clearwater et al., 2004Clearwater MJ, Lowe RG, Hofstee BJ, Barclay C, Mandenmaker AJ & Blattmann P (2004) Hydraulic conductance and rootstock effects in grafted vines of kiwifruit. Journal of Experimental Botany, 55:1371-1382. ). In coffee grown in field conditions, Fahl et al. (2001Fahl JI, Carelli MLC, Menezes HC, Gallo PB & Trivelin PCO (2001) Gas exchange, growth, yield and beverage quality of Coffea arabica cultivars grafted on to C. canephora and C. congensis. Experimental Agriculture, 37:241-252.) found that, under soil drought stress (dry period), the Coffea arabica grafted onto Coffea canephora had higher transpiration, higher stomatal conductance, and higher growth than ungrafted coffee. The authors suggested that, during the dry period, the best performance of the grafted plants was due to a greater capacity of the root of the rootstock (Coffea canephora) in supplying water to the shoots, thus optimizing the gas exchanges and increasing the photosynthetic assimilation of carbon.

In passion fruit, few studies (Menzel et al., 1986Menzel CM, Simpson & Dowling AJ (1986) Water relations in passionfruit: efffect of moisture stress on growth, flowering and nutrient uptake. Scientia Horticulturae, 29:239-249.) are related to the effects of soil water limitation on growth and photosynthetic processes between seed-propagated plants and grafted plants. Gama et al. (2013Gama VN, Cunha JT, Lima IM, Bacarin MA & Silva DM (2013) Photosynthetic characteristics and quality of five passion fruit varieties under field conditions. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 35:941-948.) studied the photosynthetic metabolism in five genotypes of P. edulis Sims f. flavicarpa in the field. They found that photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and photosynthetic pigment content can be used as reliable markers for genetic improvement.

Thus, this study aimed to assess the photosynthesis and water relations of seedlings propagated by seed (PPS) and seedlings propagated by grafting (PPG) under drought stress.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at the State University of Norte Fluminense (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ (21º 45' 44" South, 41º 17' 19" W, 10 m altitude), with 30% photosynthetic photon flux interception. The average temperature, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and relative air humidity within the greenhouse during the experimental period were 26.2 ºC (?1.20 ºC), 0.46 kPa (?.50 kPa) and 88.6% (?3.44%), respectively. The average soil temperature was 25.1 ºC (?2.51 ºC). These climatic variables were obtained by WatchDog data logger sensors, Model 450, Spectrum Technologies, USA.

The VPDair was calculated by the equation proposed by Jones (1992Jones HG (1992) Plants and microclimate: a quantitative approach to environmental plant physiology. 2ª Ed. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 85p.):

D P V a r = 0,61137 . exp 17,502 . T 240,97 + T * 1,0 - R H % 100

where T is the air temperature (° C) and RH is the relative humidity (%).

The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four treatments and four replications (two plants per replicate): PPS - plants propagated by seed (Control); PPG - plants propagated by grafting; PPSDS, plants propagated by seed under drought stress and PPGDS, plants propagated by grafting under drought stress.

Seedlings of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa provided by EMATER-RJ (São Francisco de Itabapoana, RJ) were produced in plastic tubes containing the substrate Plantmax?. The seedlings were transferred to 3-dm3 pots filled with Red Yellow Podzolic soil fertilized with 3.0 g of NPK (4-14-8) per dm3 of soil. At the time of transplanting, the seed-propagated seedlings had in average 27.5 cm height (approximately sixty days after sowing) and grafted plants had 26.5 cm (approximately sixty days after grafting). Passiflora mucronata was used as rootstock, using full-rift cleft grafting at 45 days after sowing, in which two rootstocks were used for each graft. The seedlings were kept with the same management and in the same conditions in the greenhouse after transplanting.

Soil water potential was monitored by Watermark sensors (Spectrum Technologies, USA) placed at 15 cm in depth and 5 cm distant from the plant. Each sensor was installed in one of the two plants that formed each repetition in the treatment, that is, four sensors were used for each treatment.

After transplanting, the plants were conducted on espalier system and watered daily with a watering can until percolation was observed at the bottom of each pot. At 23 and 30 days after transplanting (DAT), 1.0 and 0.5 g of calcium nitrate was applied in top dressing on each pot, respectively. At 37 DAT, the group of PPSDS and PPGDS plants were subjected to drought stress. The plants were not watered for seven consecutive days and the watering was resumed at 43 DAT.

Between 38 and 42 DAT, net photosynthetic rate (A) (μmol CO2 m-2 s-1), stomatal conductance (gs) (mol m-2 s-1), photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), and transpiration (E) (mmol m-2 s-1) were determined using the portable gas exchange system (LI-6200, Licor, Inc., USA). The evaluations were performed with the natural incident light on the sampled leaf area (6 cm2) in the apparatus chamber. Then, it was possible to measure the photosynthetic rates in different light intensities, as it varies throughout the day, which allowed us to plot the rate photosynthesis against light intensity.

Leaf water potential (Ψleaf) was determined at 7:00 p.m., using a pressure pump (ELLE International, England) (Scholander et al., 1965Scholander PF, Hammel HT, Bradstreet ED & Hemmingsen EA (1965) Sap pressure in vascular plants. Science, 148:339-346.) on the leaf opposite to the one used to measure the gas exchange and while the gas exchanges were determined. Along with the measurements of leaf water potential, the intensity of leaf greenness was determined with a portable chlorophyll meter (PCM), SPAD-502 (Minolta, Japan). The fluorescence variables [F0 (initial fluorescence), Fm (maximum fluorescence), Fv/Fm (maximum PSII quantum yield), qN, qP and NPQ were determined using the Mini-PAM Walz fluorometer. The quantum yield was evaluated by the slope in the photosynthesis curve against the photosynthetic photon flux. Prior to the determination of the fluorescence variables, the area in which the fluorescence was determined was kept in the dark for 30 minutes, so that all photosystems were open (oxidized). The coefficients related to quenchings were defined as qP=(Fm’-F)/(Fm’-F0), qN=(Fm-Fm’)/(Fm-F0), and NPQ=(Fm-Fm’)/Fm’ (Schreiber et al., 1994Schreiber U, Bilger W & Neubauer C (1994) Chlorophyll fluorescence as a nonintrusive indicator for rapid assessment of invivo photosynthesis. In: Schulze E.D & Caldwell MM (Eds.) Ecophysiology of photosynthesis. Heidelberg, Springer-Verlag. p.49-70.).

The evaluation of photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence were performed on the first fully expanded leaf (4th or 5th leaf from the apex of the main branch), between 8.00 a.m. and 10:00 am. At the end of the experiment (49 DAT), growth characteristics such as leaf area, leaf dry mass, stem dry mass, and root dry mass were determined. The total leaf area of ​​the plant was determined using the LI-3100 leaf area meter, Li-Cor, USA. The root, stem, and leaf dry mass were determined by drying the material in an air circulation oven (48 hours, 80ºC) and then weighing it.

The statistical analysis of the data was performed using the ANOVA procedure of the program SAEG, and means were compared by the Tukey’s test (1%) (Ribeiro Junior, 2001Ribeiro Jr. JI (2001) Análises estatísticas no SAEG. Viçosa, Universidade Federal de Viçosa. 301p.).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Six days after the suspension of watering, the decrease in soil water availability caused a reduction in soil water potential (Ψsoil), leaf water potential (Ψleaf), and plant photosynthetic rate (A) of seed-propagated and grafted plants. The lowest values ​​of Ψsoil (approx. -80kPa) were obtained on the last day of water restriction (42 DAT) (Figure 1), which corresponded to the lower values ​​of leaf water potential Ψleaf [approx. -2.2 MPa for PPS and - 2.0 MPa for PPG] (Figure 2).

Figure 1:
Soil water potential of passion fruit plants cultivation propagated by seed (PPSDS) and propagated by grafting (PPGDS) subjected to drought stress. The control plants propagated by seed and propagated by grafting had soil water potential of 0 kPa throughout the experiment. The arrows represent the beginning of the watering suspension (37 DAT) and the start of re-watering (43 DAT), n = 4.

Figure 2:
Relationship between soil water potential (kPa) and leaf water potential (MPa) of passion fruit plants propagated by seed and propagated by grafting as a function of water availability in the substrate.

In both treatments under drought stress (PPSDS and PPGDS), the reduced values ​​of Ψsoil (approximately - 60 kPa for grafted plants and - 80 kPa for seed-propagated plants) corresponded to net photosynthetic rate around 2 to 4 μm m-2 s-1 (Figure 3). The substrate in the pots of PPSDS plants had greater drought stress (-80kPa), shown by the lower soil water potentials (Figure 1). Staveley & Wolstenholme (1990Staveley GW & Wolstenholme BN (1990) Effects of water stress on growth and flowering of Passiflora edulis (Sims) grafted to P. Caerulea L. Acta Horticulturae, 275:551-558.), working with grafted passion fruit, argued that the soil water potential should not be less than -20 kPa during critical stages of the crop (floral differentiation and fruit fixation). Menzel & Simpson (1994Menzel CM & Simpson DR (1994) Passionfruit. In: Schaffer B & Andersen PC (Eds.) Handbook of environmental physiology of fruit crops. Boca Raton, CRC Press. p.225-241.) showed that the net photosynthetic rate in grafted plants reduced at Ψleaf values ​​below -1.5 MPa.

Figure 3:
Relationship between net photosynthetic rate and soil water potential of passion fruit plants propagated by seed and propagated by grafting in two substrate water conditions.

For PPSDS and PPGDS there was a marked reduction in Ψleaf from Ψsoil = -50 kPa (Figure 2). Up to this Ψsoil, the net photosynthetic rate in PPSDS and PPGDS reduced in approximately 50% (Figure 3). This reduction was associated with stomatal closure (Figure 4), but not with the compromised photochemical efficiency of PSII (Figure 5). The effect of low soil water availability on stomatal conductance and quantum yield was similar in both treatments, PPSDS and PPGDS (Figures 4 and 5).

Figure 4:
Relationship between net photosynthetic rate, photosynthetic photon flux density, stomatal conductance, and transpiration in passion fruit plants propagated by seed (left column) and propagated by grafting (right column) grown in two substrate water regimes (field capacity and drought stress).

Figure 5:
Variables of fluorescence in leaves of seed-propagated and grafted passion fruit plants grown in two water regimes. PPGDS (plants propagated by grafting subjected to drought stress); PPG (plants propagated by grafting grown at field capacity); PPSDS (plants propagated by seed subject to drought stress); PPS (plants propagated by seed grown at field capacity). The arrows represent the beginning of the watering suspension (37 DAT) and the start of re-watering (43 DAT). Vertical bars represent the standard error.

This result was verified for the intrinsic water use efficiency (IWUE, slope of the curve of A against gs) and for water use efficiency (WUE, slope of the curve of A against E) (Figure 4). Both type of plants (PPS and PPG) showed IWUE and WUE values ​​around 29 μmol mol-1 and 0.80 μmol mmol-1, respectively (Figure 4).

The maintenance of the photochemical processes under drought stress can be confirmed by the constant values of the energy dissipators (photochemical quenchings (qp) and non-photochemical quenchings (qNP and NPQ) (Figure 5). Lu & Zhang (1999Lu C & Zhang J (1999) Effects of water stress on photosystem II photochemistry and its thermostability in wheat plants. Journal of Experimental Botany , 50:1199-1206.) showed that there was no effect of drought stress in the substrate on these fluorescence variables, demonstrating a non-impairment in the re-oxidative capacity of quinone A (Qa), as well as a non-impairment in the formation of the trans-thylakoid proton gradient (H+) and in the xanthophyll cycle, which is represented by qP and qNP/NPQ, respectively.

Furthermore, the fluorescence emitted by the antenna system (F0) and the maximum fluorescence emitted showed no variation between the treatments as a function of the drought stress in the substrate (Figure 5). This finding showed a resistance of the photochemical apparatus of the passion fruit leaf tissue to drought stress. However, other authors found in P. edulis Sims., approximately 30 days after emergence, that the drought stress (suspension of watering for 11 days) affected the ratios Fv/Fm and ABS/RC (light energy absorbed per reaction center) on the day of maximum restriction. They related the reduced values of these fluorescence variables with the reduction in the activity of photosystem II (Gomes et al., 2012Gomes MTG, Luz AC, Santos MR, Batitucci MCP, Silva DM & Falqueto (2012) Drought tolerance of passion fruit plants assessed by the OJIP chlorophyll a fluorescence transient. Scientia Horticulturae, 142:49-56.).

Havaux (1992Havaux M (1992) Stress tolerance of photosystem II in vivo. Plant Physiology, 100:424-432.) and Lu & Zhang (1999Lu C & Zhang J (1999) Effects of water stress on photosystem II photochemistry and its thermostability in wheat plants. Journal of Experimental Botany , 50:1199-1206.) showed that the photosystem II (PSII) has a significant tolerance to drought stress. Havaux (1992Havaux M (1992) Stress tolerance of photosystem II in vivo. Plant Physiology, 100:424-432.) observed that the very strong drought stress in the leaf tissue (relative water content around 40% and leaf water potential around -4 MPa) had no effect on the performance of PSII. One of the mechanisms related to the possible resistance of PSII to drought stress is the ability of oxygen to become an acceptor during the electron flow in the photochemical phase of photosynthesis (Cornic & Briantais, 1991Cornic G & Briantais JM (1991) Partitioning of photosynthetic electron flow between CO2 and O2 reduction in a C3 leaf (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at different CO2 concentrations and during drought stress. Planta, 183:178-184. ).

After suspending the watering, the drought stressed plants (PPSDS and PPGDS) showed no reduction in the green intensities ​​obtained with the portable chlorophyll meter (PCM) (Figure 6). However, after re-watering the plants, all treatments showed a reduction in this value, possibly related to the increase in senescence of the leaf taken for measurements. This reduction may be related to the degradation of the chlorophyll molecules in the leaf lamina, since there is a high positive correlation between nitrogen, total chlorophyll content, and PCM reading (Fox et al., 1994Fox RH, Piekielek WP & MacNeal KM (1994) Using a chlorophyll meter to predict nitrogen fertilizer needs of winter wheat. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 25:171-181.; Chang & Robison, 2003Chang SX & Robison DJ (2003) Nondestructive and rapid estimation of hardwood foliar nitrogen status using the SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter. Forest Ecology and Management, 6215:1-8. , Torres-Netto et al 2005Torres Neto A, Campostrini E, Oliveira JG & Bressan-Smith RE (2005) Photosynthetic pigments, nitrogen, chlorophyll a fluorescence and SPAD-502 readings in Coffea leaves. Scientia Horticulturae , 104:199-209.). The green intensity read by the portable chlorophyll meter (PCM) can be related to the concentration of these photosynthetic pigments in many species (Torres Netto et al., 2002Torres Neto A, Campostrini E, Oliveira JG & Yamanishi OK (2002) Portable chlorophyll meter for the quantification of photosynthetic pigments, nitrogen and the possible use for assessment of the photochemical process in Carica papaya L. Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology , 14:203-210. and 2005Torres Neto A, Campostrini E, Oliveira JG & Bressan-Smith RE (2005) Photosynthetic pigments, nitrogen, chlorophyll a fluorescence and SPAD-502 readings in Coffea leaves. Scientia Horticulturae , 104:199-209.; Marquard & Tipton, 1987Marquard RD & Tipton JL (1987) Relationship between extractable chlorophyll and in situ methods to estimate leaf greenness. HortScience, 22:1327.; Schaper & Chacko, 1991Schaper H & Chacko EK (1991) Relation between extractable chlorophyll and portable chlorophyll meter readings in leaves of light tropical and subtropical fruit-tree species. Journal of Plant Physiology , 138:674-677.).

Figure 6:
Readings of portable chlorophyll meter ​​in leaves of seed-propagated and grafted passion fruit plants in two water regimes. PPGDS (plants propagated by grafting subjected to drought stress); PPG (plants propagated by grafting grown at field capacity); PPSDS (plants propagated by seed subject to drought stress); PPS (plants propagated by seed grown at field capacity). The arrows represent the beginning of the watering suspension (37 DAT) and the start of re-watering (43 DAT). Vertical bars represent the standard error.

The drought stress caused no changes in the green intensity values ​​of grafted-plants subjected to drought stress (Figure 6). According to Martinez and Guiamet (2004Martinez DE & Guiamet JJ (2004) Distortion of the SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter readings by changes in irradiance and leaf water status. Agronomie, 24:41-46), the reduced relative water content in the leaf lamina causes a greater light reflectance in the cellular spaces of the cell wall-air interface. Protoplast dehydration can increase the total surface area of ​​the cell wall-air interface, thereby increasing the reflectance in the visible region (400-700 nm). However, this effect of dehydration, causing an increase in the PCM reading was not verified in PPSDS plants.

At the end of the experiment (49 DAT), we found that the PPS plants had the highest root dry mass and the greatest leaf area than the other treatments (Table 1). drought stress in the substrate of PPSDS caused a reduction of 31% in the dry mass of root and 27% in leaf area, in relation to PPS. Drought stress in the substrate of PPGDS caused significant differences only in root dry mass, in relation to PPG.

Table 1:
Dry mass ​​of stem, leaf, and root and leaf area of ​​ passion fruit plants propagated by seed and propagated by grafting cultivated in two water regimes. Treatments: PPGDS (plants propagated by grafting subjected to drought stress); PPG (plants propagated by grafting grown at field capacity); PPSDS (plants propagated by seed subject to drought stress); PPS (plants propagated by seed grown at field capacity)

CONCLUSION

The net photosynthetic rate was reduced in plants propagated by seed and plants propagated by grafting before the reduction in leaf water potentials.

There was no effect of the treatments on the photochemical efficiency evaluated by the fluorescence emission of chlorophyll a.

Grafting of passion fruit reduced root dry mass and leaf area in comparison with plants propagated by seed.

REFERENCES

  • Agrianual (2015) Anuário da Agricultura Brasileira. São Paulo, Instituto AgraFNP. 344p.
  • Bueno CJ, Fischer IH, Rosa DD, Firmino AC, Harakava R, Oliveira CMG & Furtado EL (2014) Fusarium solani f. sp. passiflorae: a new forma specialis causing collar rot in yellow passionfruit. Plant Pathology, 63:382-389.
  • Cavichioli JC, Kasai FS & Nasser MD (2014) Productivity and physical characteristics of fruits os Passiflora edulis grafted Passiflora gibertii in different planting densities. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, 36:243-247.
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1

  • 1
    This work is part of the practice of the subject Plant Ecophysiology (Post-Graduation Program in Plant Production / UENF).
  • Symbols: A, net photosynthetic rate; gs, stomatal conductance; E, instant transpiration; VPDair, vapor pressure deficit in the air; WUE, water use efficiency (A/E); IWUE, intrinsic water use efficiency (A/gs), PPFD, photosynthetic photon flux density, Fv/Fm, maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, qP, photochemical quenching, qNP and NPQ, non-photochemical quenchings; Fm, maximum fluorescence, F0, initial fluorescence; PCM, portable chlorophyll meter; PSII, photosystem II; Ψsoil, soil water potential; Ψleaf, leaf water potential

Datas de Publicação

  • Publicação nesta coleção
    Mar-Apr 2018

Histórico

  • Recebido
    10 Nov 2016
  • Aceito
    28 Nov 2017
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