Nitrogen availability, leaf life span and nitrogen conservation mechanisms in leaves of tropical trees

Scientia Agricola

Guilherme Nascimento Corte²  Patrícia Macchiaverni²  Inácio Maria Dal Fabbro¹  Claudia Regina Baptista Haddad² 

[1] ,UNICAMP Instituto de Biologia Depto. de Biologia VegetalCampinas SP ,Brasil

关键词: leaf deciduity;    nitrogen resorption proficiency;    nitrogen use efficiency;    leaf rupture strain;    deciduidade foliar;    proficiência de reaproveitamento de nitrogênio;    eficiência do uso de nitrogênio;    tensão de ruptura da folha;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0103-90162009000600014

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Evergreen species of temperate regions are dominant in low-nutrient soils. This feature is attributed to more efficient mechanisms of nutrient economy. Nevertheless, the cashew (Anacardium occidentale- Anacardiaceae), a deciduous species, is native to regions in Brazil with sandy soil, whilst the annatto (Bixa orellana- Bixaceae), classified as an evergreen species native to tropical America, grows spontaneously in regions with more humid soils. Evergreens contain robust leaves that can resist adverse conditions for longer. The physical aspects of the leaves and mechanisms of nutrient economy between the two species were compared, in order to verify whether the deciduous species had more efficient mechanisms that might explain its occurrence in regions of low soil fertility. The mechanisms of nitrogen economy were also compared for the two species at available concentrations of this nutrient. The following were analysed: (i) leaf life span, (ii) physical leaf characteristics (leaf mass per area, and rupture strain), (iii) nitrogenous compounds (nitrogen, chlorophyll, and protein), (iv) nitrogen conservation mechanisms (nitrogen resorption efficiency, resorption proficiency, and use efficiency), and (v) nitrogen conservation mechanisms under different availability of this mineral. The higher values of leaf mass per area and leaf rupture strain found in A. occidentale were related to its longer leaf life span. A. occidentale showed lower concentrations of nitrogen and protein in the leaves than B. orellana. Under lower nitrogen availability, A. occidentale had higher nitrogen resorption proficiency, nitrogen use efficiency and leaf life span than B. orellana. These characteristics may contribute to the adaptation of this species to sandy soils with low nitrogen content.

【 授权许可】

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