Photosynthetica 2006, 44(1):39-45 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-005-0156-1

Apparent carboxylation efficiency and relative stomatal and mesophyll limitations of photosynthesis in an evergreen cerrado species during water stress

J. A. F. Monteiro1, C. H. B. A. Prado1,*
1 Centro de Ciencias Biologicas e da Saude, Laboratorio de Fisiologia Vegetal, Departamento de Botanica, Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, SP, Brasil

Miconia albicans, a common evergreen cerrado species, was studied under field conditions. Leaf gas exchange and pre-dawn leaf water potential (Ψpd) were determined during wet and dry seasons. The potential photosynthetic capacity (PNpmax) and the apparent carboxylation efficiency (ε) dropped in the dry season to 28.0 and 0.7 %, respectively, of the maximum values in the wet season. The relative mesophyll (Lm) and stomatal (Ls) limitations of photosynthesis increased, respectively, from 24 and 44 % in the wet season to 79 and 57 % at the peak of the dry season when mean Ψpd reached -5.2 MPa. After first rains, the PNpmax, ε, and Lm recovered reaching the wet season values, but Ls was maintained high (63 %). The shallow root system growing on stonemason limited by lateral concrete wall to a depth of 0.33 m explained why extreme Ψpd was brought about. Thus M. albicans is able to overcome quickly the strains imposed by severe water stress.

Additional key words: dry and wet seasons; leaf water potential; net photosynthetic rate; root distribution; stomatal conductance

Received: September 13, 2004; Accepted: June 28, 2005; Published: March 1, 2006  Show citation

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Monteiro, J.A.F., & Prado, C.H.B.A. (2006). Apparent carboxylation efficiency and relative stomatal and mesophyll limitations of photosynthesis in an evergreen cerrado species during water stress. Photosynthetica, 44(1), 39-45. doi: 10.1007/s11099-005-0156-1
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