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Light acclimation in nursery: morphoanatomy and ecophysiology of seedlings of three light-demanding neotropical tree species

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Abstract

Plants can acclimate to environmental changes by physiological and morphoanatomical responses. We aimed to evaluate the influence of high-light acclimation on the hardiness of neotropical tree species seedlings, through analysis of the gas exchange, morphology and anatomy of Aegiphila integrifolia (Jacq.) Moldenke, Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. and Heliocarpus popayanensis Kunth. Seedlings were grown in a shaded sector (40 % of photosynthetic photon flux density) of a nursery. After the growing period, part of the seedlings was kept in the shaded sector (shade) and another part was transferred to full sunlight (sun). The seedlings remained in the respective sectors for 168 days. H. popayanensis sun seedlings presented increases in net photosynthesis together with reduced stomatal conductance and transpiration, resulting in higher water-use efficiency. In contrast, the transfer to full sunlight led to a decrease in net photosynthesis of A. integrifolia and G. ulmifolia seedlings, but this parameter was recovered after development of new leaves in the sun. The hardening process under high irradiation levels induced morphoanatomical responses in all species, such as increased palisade parenchyma thickness and lower total leaf area (all species), higher stomatal density (A. integrifolia and G. ulmifolia), higher biomass allocation to roots (H. popayanensis and G. ulmifolia), and higher Dickson quality index (H. popayanensis). Thus, when submitted to a high radiation environment, the physiological and morphoanatomical acclimation increased seedlings hardiness and, in consequence, the probability of survival after planting in the field.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Biology Pos-Graduation Program of Universidade Estadual de Londrina, and Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Restauração de Ecossistemas of the Universidade Estadual de Londrina for making available the seeds and the physical space.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Caixa Postal 10011, Londrina, PR, 86057-970, Brazil

    Thaís Mazzanatti, Anderson Kikuchi Calzavara, José Antonio Pimenta, Halley Caixeta Oliveira, Renata Stolf-Moreira & Edmilson Bianchini

  2. Departamento de Biologia Animal e Vegetal, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Caixa Postal 10011, Londrina, PR, 86057-970, Brazil

    José Antonio Pimenta, Halley Caixeta Oliveira, Renata Stolf-Moreira & Edmilson Bianchini

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  1. Thaís Mazzanatti
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  2. Anderson Kikuchi Calzavara
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Correspondence to Edmilson Bianchini.

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Mazzanatti, T., Calzavara, A.K., Pimenta, J.A. et al. Light acclimation in nursery: morphoanatomy and ecophysiology of seedlings of three light-demanding neotropical tree species. Braz. J. Bot 39, 19–28 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-015-0203-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-015-0203-5

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