Photochemical efficiency in cladodes of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated under different spacings and organic fertilization

Eficiência fotoquímica em cladódios de palma forrageira ‘Gigante’ cultivada sob diferentes espaçamentos e adubação orgânica

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to determine the photochemical efficiency of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated under different spacings and bovine manure doses in the semi-arid region. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design in a 4 x 3 x 7 factorial scheme, with three replicates. The first factor consisted of four doses of organic fertilization (0, 30, 60 and 90 Mg ha^-1 year^-1 of bovine manure), the second one, of three spacings (1.0 x 0.5, 2.0 x 0.25 and 3.0 x 1.0 x 0.25 m) and the third one of seven reading times (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 h). Chlorophyll a fluorescence readings were taken in cactus pear cladodes in the dry and rainy seasons using a pulse-modulated fluorometer. Cladodes of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated under different spacings and bovine manure doses undergo changes in photosystem II during the dry season under the physiographic conditions of the semi-arid region in Bahia. During the rainy season in the semi-arid region, the photosynthetic yield in cactus pear cladodes is considered ideal.

Key words:
Opuntia; arrangement of plants; chlorophyll fluorescence

RESUMO

Objetivou-se determinar a eficiência fotoquímica da palma forrageira ‘Gigante’ cultivada sob diferentes espaçamentos e doses de esterco bovino na região semiárida. O experimento foi conduzido em blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial 4 x 3 x 7, com três repetições. O primeiro fator foi constituído de quatro doses de adubação orgânica (0; 30; 60 e 90 Mg ha^-1 ano^-1 de esterco bovino), o segundo, por três espaçamentos (1,0 x 0,5; 2,0 x 0,25 e 3,0 x 1,0 x 0,25 m) e o terceiro por sete horários de leitura (6; 8; 10; 12; 14; 16 e 18 h). Foram realizadas leituras de fluorescência da clorofila a em cladódios de palma forrageira nas épocas seca e chuvosa com auxílio de um fluorômetro de luz modulada. Os cladódios de palma forrageira ‘Gigante’ cultivada sob diferentes espaçamentos e doses de esterco bovino sofrem alterações no fotossistema II na época seca nas condições fisiográficas do semiárido baiano. Na época de chuvas na região semiárida o rendimento fotossintético em cladódios de palma forrageira é considerado ideal.

Palavras-chave:
Opuntia; arranjo de plantas; fluorescência da clorofila

Introduction

Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is used as animal feed in production systems of various arid and semi-arid regions worldwide (Grünwaldt et al., 2015), for having features of coexistence with the environmental limitations present in these regions, such as stress by water deficit, high temperatures and excess radiation (Donato et al., 2014).

Cactus pear is a xerophile plant and its physiology is characterized by the photosynthetic process called Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) and, under stress conditions, water is saved due to stomatal closure during the day and opening during the night with CO₂ fixation. Thus, integration of production factors such as plant spacing and fertilization, within the soil-plant-atmosphere system, may have effect on plant physiological characteristics.

Plant spacing in the crop can affect light interception and photosynthetic efficiency (Cavalcante et al., 2014), because the larger total area of exposure to sunlight indicates higher production potential (Larcher, 2000; Taiz et al., 2017). Additionally, greater availability of nutrients in the soil may alter the expression of morphometric attributes and affect crop yield (Donato et al., 2014).

Chlorophyll a fluorescence has allowed inferences on the efficiency of the photochemical phase of photosynthesis and can be useful in studies on the physiological behavior of CAM plants (Romo-Campos et al., 2013; Cruz et al., 2014; Díez et al., 2017). Thus, it can help understand the adaptability and resistance to drought of cactus pear in the soil-plantatmosphere production context of the semi-arid region. In addition, extrapolating these results may support the search for optimization of management practices. Conversely, studies on physiology are still scarce (Adams Terceiro et al., 1989; Winter & Lesch, 1992; Becerril & Valdivia, 2006) and are necessary to fill these gaps in the knowledge on the crop.

Therefore, the objective was to determine the photochemical efficiency of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated under different spacings and bovine manure doses in the semi-arid region.

Material and Methods

The experiment was installed at the Federal Institute of Bahia, Campus of Guanambi, Bahia, Brazil (14º 13’ 33’’ S; 42º 46’ 53’’ W; 525 m), under mean annual rainfall of 680 mm and mean annual temperature of 26 ºC. Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus indica Mill.), variety ‘Gigante’, was planted in September 2009 before the rainy season, in typic dystrophic Red Yellow Latosol, with weak A horizon, medium texture, under hypoxerophilic Caatinga, on flat to gently undulating relief.

Maximum and minimum temperatures, rainfall, relative air humidity and wind speed recorded along the experimental period are presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1
Temperature (maximum-Tmax and minimum-Tmin), rainfall and relative air humidity (RH) along the experimental period

The experimental design was randomized blocks in 4 x 3 x 7 factorial scheme, with three replicates. The first factor consisted of four doses of organic fertilization (0; 30; 60 and 90 Mg ha^-1 year^-1 of bovine manure), the second one, of three spacings (1.0 x 0.5; 2.0 x 0.25 and 3.0 x 1.0 x 0.25 m) and the third one, of seven reading times (6; 8; 10; 12; 14; 16 and 18 h). The total area was 2,304 m², whereas plot area was 64 m² (16 x 4 m) and evaluations were made in a 16 m² area (8 x 2 m). The same population of 20,000 plants ha^-1 was maintained in the planting spacings used.

Before soil tillage, samples were collected in the 0-20 cm layer for chemical and textural analyses (Table 1), carried out at the Soil Analysis Laboratory of the State University of Southwestern Bahia, Campus of Vitória da Conquista, according to EMBRAPA (1997).

Table 1
Mean chemical characteristics of the soil relative to the experimental area occupied by blocks 1, 2 and 3

Parameters	Unit	Block1	Block 2	Block 3
pH	-	5.60	5.33	5.33
P	mg dm-3	27.25	10.75	11.00
K+	cmolc dm-3	0.28	0.27	0.31
Ca2+	cmolc dm-3	2.44	1.93	1.68
Mg2+	cmolc dm-3	0.89	0.92	0.88
Al3+	cmolc dm-3	0.11	0.19	0.17
H+	cmolc dm-3	1.69	1.67	1.71
Na+	cmolc dm-3	0.00	0.07	0.06
SB	cmolc dm-3	3.62	3.13	2.88
t	cmolc dm-3	3.73	3.32	3.04
T	cmolc dm-3	5.42	4.98	4.75
V	%	66.58	62.42	60.42
m	%	3.08	6.08	5.42
ESP	%	0.00	1.00	1.00
OM	g dm-3	16.17	14.42	13.42
Cu++	mg dm-3	0.38	0.38	0.33
Mn++	mg dm-3	15.38	18.46	19.00
Zn++	mg dm-3	2.02	1.21	1.03
Textural class		Sandy clay loam

The area was subsoiled, plowed, harrowed and then furrowed at the planting spacings. Organic fertilizer was applied in the planting furrow according to the preestablished doses of fresh manure, at once, and repeated after one year in the other growth season. Bovine manure was incorporated to the soil using the furrower and the furrows were open again to plant the pads. The bovine manure showed the following composition: Organic matter = 63.73 g kg^-1, Ash = 36.27 dag kg^-1, Total carbon = 29.98 dag kg^-1 and pH = 7.42, analyzed by the official method of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) (Brasil, 2007); Moisture content (dry basis) at 65 °C = 16.72%; Macronutrients: Ca, Mg, K, N and S = 1.7; 0.2; 2.5; 5.2 and 2.3 g kg^-1 (EPA 3051/APHA 3120B), respectively; P = 4.7 g kg^-1 (APHA 4500-PC); Micronutrients (EPA 3051/APHA 3120B): B, Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe = 2.1; 45.2; 200.5; 391.8 and 1,932.4 mg kg^-1, respectively; and Density = 0.38 g cm^-3.

To install the experiment, mature cladodes with accumulation of reserves were selected from one single 15-yearold cactus pear plantation which had not been harvested for two years. After harvest, they remained in the shade for 15 days to cure, and then were planted. The cladodes were planted with the longest dimension in the East/West direction, buried about 50% in the soil for better fixation. Invasive plants were controlled using a hoe, two weedings and herbicide, two applications of glyphosate at dose of 200 mL of the commercial product 20 L^-1 of water during the rainy seasons.

At 11 months after planting in July-August 2010 (dry season) and at 18 months in December 2010 – January 2011 (rainy season), chlorophyll a fluorescence readings were taken in the cactus pear cladodes along the day. Seven readings were taken at 2 h intervals, from 6 to 18 h, in three plants of the evaluation area.

Chlorophyll a fluorescence readings were taken using a pulse-modulated fluorometer (OS1-FL - OPTI-Sciences). The clips to measure chlorophyll a fluorescence were placed in the middle third of the cladode and the measurement was taken after 5 min of dark adaptation, by applying a 0.3-s saturating light pulse. Initial fluorescence (Fo), maximum fluorescence (Fm), variable fluorescence (Fv) and photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) were evaluated at 0.6 kHz frequency. During the measurements, a clip was used to adapt chloroplasts to the dark so that all photosystem II (PSII) reaction centers were open and the heat loss was minimum, as claimed by Strauss et al. (2006).

Additionally, readings were taken in light-adapted cladodes, by applying saturating pulses to determine chlorophyll fluorescence at the stationary state (Fs), maximum fluorescence in the light (Fms), variable fluorescence in the light (Fvs) and quantum yield of photosystem II (Yield). Three readings of dark and one of light were taken in each plant identified.

Data were subjected to analysis of variance and regression. Regression equation fits were based on the adequacy of the model to the studied phenomenon, significance of regression parameters by t-test at 0.05 probability level and on the adjusted coefficient of determination (R²). Means of the variables were grouped by the Scott-Knott criterion (p < 0.05).

Results and Discussion

The parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence evaluated in cladodes of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear during July-August, dry season, varied according to the reading times, regardless of spacing and organic fertilization (Table 2), except for maximum fluorescence (Fm), variable fluorescence (Fv) and quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm). Likewise, the parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence evaluated during December-January, rainy season in the region, varied according to the reading times, regardless of spacing and organic fertilization (Table 2); however, Fv/Fm ratio and quantum yield (Yield) varied according to spacing and organic fertilization, regardless of reading time.

Table 2
Initial fluorescence (Fo), maximum fluorescence (Fm), variable fluorescence (Fv), quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll a fluorescence at the stationary state (Fs), maximum fluorescence in the light (Fms), variable fluorescence in the light (Fvs) and quantum yield of photosystem II (Yield) in ‘Gigante’ cactus pear along the months of July-August (dry season)

Time (h)	Fo	Fm	Fv	Fv/Fm	Fs	Fms	Fvs	Yield
6	191.0 C	750.2	559.4	0.70	321.8 D	1060.4 B	738.8 A	0.63 A
8	222.2 A	783.5	561.5	0.67	435.6 A	1274.5 A	839.1 A	0.61 A
10	216.4 A	683.7	467.5	0.65	395.5 B	1015.6 B	620.2 B	0.55 B
12	201.5 B	663.4	462.1	0.65	356.7 C	927.0 B	570.5 B	0.52 B
14	204.5 B	689.1	484.8	0.63	370.4 C	926.2 B	556.1 B	0.58 B
16	202.9 B	697.7	495.2	0.67	377.9 C	1019.1 B	641.3 B	0.58 B
18	190.1 C	664.5	474.6	0.67	358.2 C	1196.5 A	838.4 A	0.63 A
CV (%)	10.2	27.0	36.0	12.8	13.7	32.9	45.8	17.9

• Means followed by the same letter in the columns belong to the same group by the Scott-Knott criterion at 0.05 probability level

Table 3
Initial fluorescence (Fo), maximum fluorescence (Fm), variable fluorescence (Fv), quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll a fluorescence at the stationary state (Fs), maximum fluorescence in the light (Fms), variable fluorescence in the light (Fvs) and quantum yield of photosystem II (Yield) in ‘Gigante’ cactus pear along the months of December-January (rainy season)

Time (h)	Fo	Fm	Fv	Fv/Fm	Fs	Fms	Fvs	Yield
6	197.7 B	880.3 C	682.9 C	0.76 C	441.8 A	1665.8 B	1224.2 B	0.72 B
8	206.8 A	846.4 D	639.8 C	0.75 D	432.2 A	1464.6 C	1032.7 C	0.69 C
10	208.0 A	952.3 B	744.6 B	0.77 B	438.8 A	1586.5 B	1148.1 B	0.71 B
12	196.7 B	932.3 B	735.8 B	0.78 B	419.2 B	1502.9 C	1083.9 C	0.71 B
14	191.0 B	904.6 C	713.9 B	0.78 B	413.9 B	1478.6 C	1065.1 C	0.70 C
16	181.0 C	829.4 D	648.6 C	0.76 C	358.7 C	1303.7 D	945.3 D	0.66 D
18	173.1 C	1033.5 A	860.8 A	0.82 A	363.6 C	1987.5 A	1624.1 A	0.81 A
CV (%)	8.08	9.92	11.89	3.37	8.53	12.36	15.47	4.99

• Means followed by the same letter in the columns belong to the same group by the Scott-Knott criterion at 0.05 probability level

Among the fluorescence parameters, Fv/Fm and yield are considered as the most relevant because they indicate the functioning of photosystem II (PSII) and, consequently, the efficiency in the use of photochemical radiation in carbon assimilation by plants.

The mean value of Fv/Fm ratio during the day, 0.660 in the dry season, indicates that the photosynthetic apparatus of the cladodes was altered, because this value is not within the range considered as optimal (Fv/Fm = 0.800 ± 0.5) by Bolhàr-Nordenkampf et al. (1989). Such alteration is probably due to the fact that the quantity of photochemical energy introduced in the cladode is higher than its capacity of using it for photosynthesis, resulting in decline of Fv/Fm, which characterizes a higher non-photochemical dissipation and indicates that these cladodes are acting with the CAM physiological mechanism.

Regarding the Yield, two groups were formed, in which the highest values were found at the coolest hours of the day (6, 8 and 18 h), the times corresponding to phases I and IV of the CAM photosynthesis (Nobel, 2001), respectively. These values and the Fv/Fm indicate that cactus pear cladodes under the conditions prevailing in the dry season of the semi-arid region exhibit a damaged photosynthetic apparatus and in a more accentuated way at the times of highest stress by heat and radiation, between 10 and 16 h.

Modifications in chlorophyll a fluorescence, under stress conditions, occur when enzymes responsible for carbon reduction are damaged and the electron transport is inhibited, which suggests there is a reduction in the amount of energy used by the plant for photochemical processes, as observed in Opuntia jaliscana under dry climate and low humidity conditions (Romo-Campos et al., 2013). In addition, under conditions of drought, heat stress and radiation, the chlorenchyma loses significant amount of water and the cladode begins to exhibit rough aspect and loss of its characteristic green color (Becerril & Valdivia, 2006), indicating loss of chlorophyll (Pimienta-Barrios et al., 2005). These descriptions corroborate with the results of fluorescence found in the present study for the dry season.

There was interaction (p < 0.05) between planting spacings and bovine manure doses (Figure 2). Fv/Fm and Yield data fitted to cubic models at the spacings E1 (1.0 x 0.5 m) and E3 (3.0 x 1.0 x 0.25 m) and to a quadratic model at E2 (2.0 x 0.25 m). The cubic models fitted are possibly justified by the physiological adaptation of the cactus pear cladodes to the interaction in the environment between the availability of nutrients due to organic fertilizations and the planting spacings (E1 and E3).

Figure 2
Quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) (A) and quantum yield of photosystem II (Yield) (B) in ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated at different spacings and bovine manure doses during July-August (dry season)

At the spacing 2.0 x 0.25 m, there is less shading and the cladodes, under no bovine manure application, show the highest value of Fv/Fm. Fertilization with organic matter induces plant growth, promoting the appearance of new cladodes, which may justify the decline in Fv/Fm and Yield at doses of 30 and 60 Mg ha^-1 year^-1, and the subsequent increase of the values at the dose of 90 Mg ha^-1 year^-1, because when the manure was not applied the plant did not grow. Therefore, it had cladodes with more reserves and higher resistance to the predominant conditions in the environment. Nonetheless, due to the effect of organic fertilization, new cladodes grew, which undergo more damage to the photosynthetic apparatus under drought conditions, resulting in reduction of efficiency and quantum yield. Daughter cladodes represent strong sink organs and cause physiological stress on mother cladodes during the dry season (Zañudo–Hernández et al., 2010), with reduction in the daily C gain and relative water content in mother cladodes, suggesting water movement from mother to daughter (Pimienta-Barrios et al., 2005). In addition, CO₂ assimilation is more affected in the phase IV of CAM (Nobel, 2001) (net CO₂ absorption in late afternoon) by the combined effects of daughter cladodes and drought.

Similar response may have occurred for the spacings E1 (1.0 x 0.5 m) and E3 (3.0 x 1.0 x 0.25 m), but they showed greater plant distribution uniformity, with greater exploration of the soil by the root system and less shading between neighboring plants, which favors photosynthetic efficiency and, consequently, higher growth (Silva et al., 2016). With the application of 30 Mg ha^-1 year^-1, there was a higher growth rate, resulting in higher Fv/Fm and Yield, followed by a reduction at 60 Mg ha^-1 year^-1 and a subsequent increase at 90 Mg ha^-1 year^-1, and the data fitted to cubic models, with adequate coefficients of determination.

The higher quantum yield observed in the rainy season (January-February), compared with the dry season (July- August), was possibly due to the increase of C gain in response to the availability of water from the rainfalls, associated with lower temperatures and high relative air humidity (Figure 1). This promotes CO₂ capture during the night (via CAM) and during the day (via C3) (Pimienta-Barrios et al., 2012); consequently, Fv/Fm and Yield values are within the range considered as optimal, which evidences adequate functioning of the electron transport chain.

The reduction in PSII efficiency in the dry season, compared with the rainy season, confirms the negative influence of water deficit, as described by Masrahi et al. (2012) and Pimienta-Barrios et al. (2012), under arid conditions. It is important to highlight also the relevance of organic fertilization because, in general, photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) increases with greater supply of nutrients (Cuzzuol et al., 2016).

The results of ideal quantum efficiency in cactus pear cladodes in the rainy season are possibly due to the fact that instantaneous CO₂ assimilation and daily C gain of the cladodes significantly increased after plants received a substantial volume of rain. Studies on cactus pear cladodes have found that the net daily CO₂ capture was more accentuated in rainy periods and root formation increased in response to the availability of water in the soil (Pimienta-Barrios et al., 2012).

The results of the present study confirm that the chlorophyll a fluorescence measurement is a good tool to evaluate the efficient use of radiation in cactus pear (Franck et al., 2013).

Conclusions

1. Cladodes of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated under different spacings and bovine manure doses undergo alterations in the photosystem II in the dry season under the physiographic conditions of the semi-arid region of Bahia.

2. In the rainy season in the semi-arid region, the photosynthetic yield in cactus pear cladodes is considered ideal.

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• Zañudo–Hernández, J.; Aranda, E. G. C.; Ramírez-Hernández, B. C.; Pimienta-Barrios, E.; Castillo-Cruz, I. Ecophysiological responses of Opuntia to water stress under various semi–arid environments. Journal of the Professional Association for Cactus Development, v.12, p.20-36, 2010.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  May 2018

History

• Received
  01 Aug 2017
• Accepted
  27 Dec 2017