Seasonal changes in CO2 assimilation in leaves of seedlings and micropropagated plants of Carob tree established in the field

Osório, Maria Leonor; Osório, Júlio; David, Maria Manuela; Correia, Maria João; Romano, Anabela

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/1058

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Abstract(s)

In this communication we evaluate the field performance of two micropropagated Portuguese carob cultivars (Galhosa and Mulata) throughout the season, particularly at extreme conditions of light and temperature. Two irrigated plots were established in the field: 1) micropropagated plants, vs 2) seedlings. During the first year following transplantation to the field, we followed net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll a fluorescence and leaf contents in chlorophyll, carotenoids and protein. No significant differences were detected between seedlings and micropropagated plants along the year. However, at the end of summer, despite irrigation, the photosynthetic rate (NP), the quantum yield of PSII (fPSII) and the intrinsic efficiency of open PSII reaction centers (F’v/F’m) declined, concomitantly with the increase of the thermal energy dissipation at the PSII (NPQ). As the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) was maintained high (0.82), these results indicate that regulated thermal dissipation in light harvesting complexes was promoted in order to avoid photoinhibition. After the first growth period in the field, data from micropropagated plants did not differ from seedlings, and those plants showed the characteristic behaviour of plants well adapted to Mediterranean climates. So, in vitro propagation could be use as a promising alternative to traditional propagation and establishment of carob orchards.

Keywords

Photosynthesis Ceratonia siliqua Micropropagated plants Field establishment

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http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/1058

Citation

Osório, Maria Leonor; Osório, Júlio; David, Maria Manuela; Correia, Maria João; Romano, Anabela. Seasonal changes in CO2 assimilation in leaves of seedlings and micropropagated plants of carob tree established in the field. Trabalho apresentado em III International Symposium on Acclimatization and Establishment of Micropropagated Plants. In ISHS Acta Horticulturae, Faro, 2009.