Comparative stomatal conductance and chlorophyll a fluorescence in leaves vs. fruits of the cerrado legume tree, Dalbergia miscolobium

Comparação da condutância estomática e da fluorescência da clorofila a entre folhas e frutos de Dalbegia miscolobium, uma árvore do cerrado

Abstracts

The aim of this study was to compare water vapor conductance and chlorophyll a fluorescence between leaflets and fruits of Dalbergia miscolobium, the Jacaranda tree. The frequency of stomata on the leaflets was 20 times higher than that observed on the fruits, and this was related with the lower conductance of the fruits in comparison with the leaflets. The potential quantum yield of PSII (Fv /Fmax) was significantly lower in fruits than in leaflets. The Fv /Fmax values for leaflets increased to over 0.8 during the afternoon, indicating the occurrence of dynamic photoinhibition. In contrast, Fv /Fmax values for fruits remained low even at early morning, indicating the occurrence of chronic photoinhibition. The maximum values of effective quantum yield (deltaF/F'm), and of the apparent electron transport rate (ETRmax) were higher in leaflets than in fruits. It was concluded that, like other green tissues, the pericarp of D. miscolobium was photosynthetically active, and therefore can contribute to the maintenance of the fruits and/or to the development of the seeds.

jacaranda tree; stomata; quantum efficiency of PSII; water vapor conductance

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, comparativamente, a condutância ao vapor d'água e a eficiência fotoquímica, utilizando medidas de fluorescência da clorofila a, em folíolos e frutos de Dalbergia miscolobium, o jacarandá-do-cerrado. A freqüência de estômatos nos folíolos foi 20 vezes superior à dos frutos, e este fato foi relacionado aos menores valores de condutância nos últimos, em comparação aos dos folíolos. O rendimento quântico potencial do PSII (Fv /Fmax) foi significativamente inferior nos frutos quando comparados aos folíolos. Os valores de Fv /Fmax para os folíolos aumentaram, durante a tarde, para acima de 0,8, indicando fotoinibição dinâmica. Para os frutos, os valores de Fv /Fmax permaneceram baixos, mesmo no início da manhã, revelando a fotoinibição crônica. As folhas apresentaram maior rendimento quântico efetivo (deltaF/F'max) e maior taxa aparente de transporte de elétrons (ETR) do que os frutos. Pode-se concluir que o pericarpo dos frutos de D. miscolobium, como outros tecidos verdes apresentam alguma atividade fotossintética, podendo, portanto, contribuir para a manutenção dos frutos e/ou para o desenvolvimento das sementes.

jacarandá-do-cerrado; condutância ao vapor d'água; eficiência quântica do PSII; estômato

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Comparative stomatal conductance and chlorophyll a fluorescence in leaves vs. fruits of the cerrado legume tree, Dalbergia miscolobium

Comparação da condutância estomática e da fluorescência da clorofila a entre folhas e frutos de Dalbegia miscolobium, uma árvore do cerrado

José Pires de Lemos Filho^*; Rosy Mary dos Santos Isaias

Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, UFMG, CEP 31270-110, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to compare water vapor conductance and chlorophyll a fluorescence between leaflets and fruits of Dalbergia miscolobium, the Jacaranda tree. The frequency of stomata on the leaflets was 20 times higher than that observed on the fruits, and this was related with the lower conductance of the fruits in comparison with the leaflets. The potential quantum yield of PSII (F_v /F_max) was significantly lower in fruits than in leaflets. The F_v /F_max values for leaflets increased to over 0.8 during the afternoon, indicating the occurrence of dynamic photoinhibition. In contrast, F_v /F_max values for fruits remained low even at early morning, indicating the occurrence of chronic photoinhibition. The maximum values of effective quantum yield (DF/F_'m), and of the apparent electron transport rate (ETRmax) were higher in leaflets than in fruits. It was concluded that, like other green tissues, the pericarp of D. miscolobium was photosynthetically active, and therefore can contribute to the maintenance of the fruits and/or to the development of the seeds.

Key words: jacaranda tree, stomata, quantum efficiency of PSII, water vapor conductance.

RESUMO

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, comparativamente, a condutância ao vapor d'água e a eficiência fotoquímica, utilizando medidas de fluorescência da clorofila a, em folíolos e frutos de Dalbergia miscolobium, o jacarandá-do-cerrado. A freqüência de estômatos nos folíolos foi 20 vezes superior à dos frutos, e este fato foi relacionado aos menores valores de condutância nos últimos, em comparação aos dos folíolos. O rendimento quântico potencial do PSII (F_v /F_max) foi significativamente inferior nos frutos quando comparados aos folíolos. Os valores de F_v /F_max para os folíolos aumentaram, durante a tarde, para acima de 0,8, indicando fotoinibição dinâmica. Para os frutos, os valores de F_v /F_max permaneceram baixos, mesmo no início da manhã, revelando a fotoinibição crônica. As folhas apresentaram maior rendimento quântico efetivo (DF/F_'max) e maior taxa aparente de transporte de elétrons (ETR) do que os frutos. Pode-se concluir que o pericarpo dos frutos de D. miscolobium, como outros tecidos verdes apresentam alguma atividade fotossintética, podendo, portanto, contribuir para a manutenção dos frutos e/ou para o desenvolvimento das sementes.

Palavras-chave: jacarandá-do-cerrado, condutância ao vapor d'água, eficiência quântica do PSII, estômato.

INTRODUCTION

Reproductive plant organs impose a significant energy and carbon demand in relation to the total plant dry mass production (Bazzaz et al., 1979), since significant quantities of assimilates are translocated from leaves to flowers and developing fruits (Pavel and DeJong, 1993).

Several studies have reported that flowers, fruits, and pods of legumes have photosynthetic activity (Hansen, 1970; Crookston et al., 1974; Flinn et al., 1977), and so these reproductive structures should contribute with a fraction of the carbohydrates required for their development. These photosynthetic contributions from fruits are estimated in distinct ways, according to the species and type of structure, and they may vary from 5-9% in peach (Pavel and DeJong, 1993) to 10% in cotton (Wullschlegn et al., 1991), and to 12% in pepper fruits (Steer and Pearson, 1976).

Even though the epidermis of fruits and pods may present less stomata than the epidermis of leaves, their function should be similar (Crookston et al., 1974; Atkins et al., 1977). This has been shown by the analysis of transpiration rates in immature fruits, whose epidermis constitute the main site of CO₂ exchange, due to their lower diffusive resistance, as pointed out by Blanke and Lens (1989).

The majority of the studies on photosynthesis of fruits has been performed by the quantification of CO₂ exchange (Goldstein et al., 1991; Pavel and DeJong, 1993; Blanke and Whiley, 1995; Marcelis and Hofman-Eijer, 1995), and, more recently, by chlorophyll fluorescence measurements (Hetherington et al. 1998; Smille et al., 1999). Most studies on photosynthesis in fruits have focused mainly on species of economic importance, while similar studies on wild species are relatively rare (Goldstein et al., 1991). Moreover, the available data on photosynthesis of Brazilian native species has focused on leaf behavior. Therefore, this study was carried out to compare photosynthesis in fruits and leaves of Dalbergia miscolobium (Jacaranda tree or jacaranda-of-cerrado), a legume tree native to Brazil, in an attempt to contribute to understand ecophysiological aspects related to the carbon economy of plants from Brazilian biomes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study was performed in situ on three native trees of Dalbergia miscolobium Benth. (4-5 m height), growing in their natural habitat of the cerrado (Brazilian savanna) near Belo Horizonte (19º51'S, 43º55'W), State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, at the end of the wet season (2001, March 27). Phenological observations indicated that leaf loss and fruit dispersal took place at the end of the dry season (end of August/beginning of September). Bud sprouting occurred just after leaf shedding, and flowering began after leaf maturation, during the rainy season, in February.

Stomata counting and measurements were done on excised epidermis of leaflets (n = 10) and fruits (n = 10) fixed, and stored in FAA (formalin: ethanol 50%: acetic acid, 1:1:18, v/v). Epidermal fragments (~1 cm²) were peeled off for 24 h, at 60ºC, by Jeffrey's method stained with 1% safranin in 50% ethanol, and mounted in glycerin jelly (Johansen, 1940). Photographs were taken using an Olympus SZH photo-microscope. Stomata density were measured using an Olympus BH2-DA drawing attachment connected to an Olympus light microscope, and measurements of stomata pore area (n = 50) were made using an image analysis software (Motic Images 2000- Canada).

Physiological parameters were measured at the end of March, when fruits reached maximum size, but seeds were still immature. Leaf and fruit conductance were determined with a diffusion porometer AP4 (Delta-T, UK), and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements made with a portable chlorophyll fluorometer MINI-PAM (Walz, Germany). Maximum (F_max) and basal (F_o) fluorescence yield were measured in dark-adapted (30 min) leaflets or fruits for determination of the potential quantum yield of photosystem II - PSII (F_v /F_max = F_max- F_o/F_max). The effective quantum yield of the PSII (DF/F_'m) was calculated as (F_'max -F)/F_'max where F is the steady-state fluorescence in the light, and F_'max is the maximum fluorescence in the light when a saturating light was imposed. The apparent electron transport rate (ETR) was obtained according to Lüttge et al. (1998), ETR= 0.5(DF/F_'max). PPF, where 0.5 is a factor that takes into account the light excitation of the two photosystems, DF/F_'max is the effective quantum yield of PSII, and PPF the photosynthetic photon flux density determined with a quantum sensor (LI-COR) at the exposition plane, considering that both leaflets and fruits of D. miscolobium have vertical orientations. These precautions in relation to light measurements were taken due to the effects of the leaflet orientation on the rate of photochemical reactions as observed in Pterodon pubescens by Caldas et al. (1997). All measurements were made on two leaflets and two fruits per plant.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The adaxial epidermis of leaflets was composed of polygonal 4-5 side cells, of irregular shapes, and randomly orientated. Trichome basal cells were noted by the radially disposed basic epidermal cells around them. The abaxial epidermis of leaflets was composed of polygonal cells, with size and shape similar to those of the adaxial epidermis. Stomata were predominantly paracytic, but anomocytic ones were also observed. Guard and subsidiary anticlinal cell walls were thinner than those of the basic epidermal cells (figure 1A). Trichome basal cells were similar to those of the adaxial side of the blade. Fruit epidermis was composed of polygonal 4-5 side cells, with irregular shapes, randomly orientated, and larger than those of the leaflets. Trichomes were not observed. Stomata were exclusively anomocytic, and were larger than those of the leaflets (figure 1B).

According to Mauseth (1988), during fruit development no new stomata are usually initiated, so their density decreases as the fruit becomes larger, and this was particularly true for D. miscolobium mature fruits. In addition, it was observed that both basic epidermal and guard cells were larger in fruits than leaflets, suggesting that cell enlargement was more important than cell division or differentiation during fruit maturation.

Stomata frequency on the epidermis of D. miscolobium fruits was approximately 20-fold lower than for the abaxial epidermis of the leaflets (table 1). This order of magnitude agrees with Blanke and Lenz (1989), who pointed out that stomata on the outer epidermis of a fruit might be 10 to 100-fold less frequent than in the leaf abaxial epidermis of the same species. In the current study, stomata frequency on the fruit epidermis was approximately 4.6% of that on the leaflet abaxial epidermis, and significantly less frequent than the values of broad bean or pea pod epidermis, which were 27% and 25% as frequent as on the leaflet surface (Willmer and Johnston, 1976; Atkins et al., 1977).

The stomata pore area of fruits of D. miscolobium was larger than that of leaflets, but due to lower stomatal frequency, the fraction of fruit epidermis surface area occupied by stomata pores (Ast/A) corresponds to just 9% of the Ast/A of the leaflet abaxial epidermis (table 1). The difference in Ast/A between fruits and leaflets resulted in the lowest conductance values being observed on fruits. In the morning measurements, fruit conductance, 29 ± 4 mmol.m^-2.s^-1, corresponded to 7.8% of that of leaflets, 378 ± 165 mmol.m-².s^-1 (figure 2A), which were similar to the leaf conductance of three other cerrado woody species in the wet season (Lemos Filho, 2001). In the fruits, the lowest values of stomatal conductance were constant during the day. The patterns of D. miscolobium leaflets were similar to those observed for Qualea grandiflora, another cerrado tree (Franco and Lüttge, 2002). The maximum conductance values occurred early in the morning, followed by a continuous decrease at noon, with a small recovery around 2:00 pm, and an expressive decrease in the afternoon, with the lowest incident light values (figure 2B).

Similar to the pattern observed for the water vapor exchange, the potential quantum yield of PSII (F_v /F_max) at 10:00 h was lower in fruits (0.447 ± 0.07) when compared to that of leaflets (0.768 ± 0.04) (figure 3A). As a consequence of the decrease of the incident light levels in the afternoon, the F_v /F_max values of fruits rose, but they were always inferior to those observed in leaflets.

When exposed to excessive light, PSII function can be affected by photoinhibition (Barber and Anderson, 1992). Considering 0.8 as a threshold F_v /F_max value for photoinhibition, as suggested by Lütge et al. (1998), the measurements in both leaflets and fruits indicated excessive incident light level noon. The midday F_v /F_max values of leaflets increased up to values higher than 0.8 with the decreasing light irradiance in the afternoon, which characterizes the occurrence of dynamic photoinhibition (Osmond, 1994). In this case, the excess of photon flux should have been dissipated by non-photochemical pathways in a protective down-regulation of PSII mediated by the xanthophylls cycle (Demmig-Adams and Adams, 1996). However, in fruits of D. miscolobium, the F_v /F_max values were constantly below the threshold value, even in the early morning, indicating a chronic photoinhibition, similarly to that observed by Mattos et al. (2002) in leaves of Miconia albicans, a cerrado shrub. The chronic photoinhibition involves photon damage to the functional integrity of the PSII reaction center when the proteolysis of the D1 protein of the reaction center core exceeds the rate of repair (Osmond, 1994).

The effective quantum yield of the PSII (DF/F_'max) for both leaflets and fruits dropped with the increase of incident light in the morning (figure 3B). Leaflet DF/F_'max values were also higher than those of fruits with the highest difference in the afternoon, in spite of the decrease of incident light. The maximum apparent ETR values for leaflets were also higher than those observed in fruits; 335 ± 97 mmol.m-².s-¹ and 151 ± 49 mmol.m-².s-¹, respectively (figure 3C). These highest ETR values were not only a result of the highest incident light on leaflets (figure3), but they were mainly due to the effective quantum yield of PSII (DF/F_'max) being higher in leaflets than in fruits. Using chlorophyll fluorescence techniques to access the photosynthetic activity of vegetative and fruiting tissues of tomato fruits, Hetherington et al. (1998) found that the maximum ETR varied from 110 to 330 mmol.m-².s-¹, with the highest values measured in leaf lamina and the lowest ones for fruit, a result similar to that obtained in the present study.

The CO₂ evolution rates of illuminated fruits were lower than those of fruits in darkness, indicating that they fix CO₂, but the dark respiration was not fully compensated by light fixation in most fruit pods (Pavel and De Jong, 1993). However, according to Goldstein et al. (1991), the photosynthetic activity of the pod pericarp helped support not only the cost of fruit maintenance, but also the cost of its growth, particularly during the first stages of development, considering that, during late fruiting stages, insufficient carbon is fixed to fully support either respiration or growth. Even though the photosynthetic performance of D. miscolobium fruits was lower than that of leaflets, the photosynthetic activity found for the pericarp, as shown for many green tissues other than leaf mesophyll, was likely to be relevant in the provision of carbon assimilates, and thus should contribute to fruit maintenance and/or seed development.

In addition, it is of interest to consider the ETR results obtained using the chlorophyll fluorescence technique in terms of oxygen evolution, since four electrons are generated per molecule of oxygen released, as a result of water splitting. Considering that fruits could maintain a high internal CO₂ concentration, as shown for tomato fruits (Czarnowski and Starzecki, 1992), the oxygen evolution by the pericarp could be important to avoid or reduce internal anaerobiosis, as suggested by Pfanz et al. (2002) for green tree stems.

Acknowledgments: We thank the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) for financial support of this study, and G. Uemura for reviewing the text. J.P.LF is grateful to CNPq for the awarded fellowship.

Received: 16/03/2004, Accepted: 19/06/2004

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  01 Oct 2004
• Date of issue
  Aug 2004

History

• Accepted
  19 June 2004
• Received
  16 Mar 2004