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COMPARATIVE PHOTOSYNTHESIS, WATER RELATIONS, GROWTH AND SURVIVAL RATES IN JUVENILE CRIOLLO CACAO CULTIVARS (THEOBROMA CACAO) DURING DRY AND WET SEASONS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 July 2012

O. ARAQUE ,
R. E. JAIMEZ ,
W. TEZARA ,
I. CORONEL ,
R. URICH  and
W. ESPINOZA
O. ARAQUE
Affiliation:
Universidad de los Andes, Instituto Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Laboratorio de Ecofisiología de cultivos. Mérida, Venezuela
R. E. JAIMEZ*
Affiliation:
Universidad de los Andes, Instituto Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Laboratorio de Ecofisiología de cultivos. Mérida, Venezuela
W. TEZARA
Affiliation:
Universidad Central de Venezuela, Instituto de Biología Experimental, Caracas, Venezuela
I. CORONEL
Affiliation:
Universidad Central de Venezuela, Instituto de Biología Experimental, Caracas, Venezuela
R. URICH
Affiliation:
Universidad Central de Venezuela, Instituto de Biología Experimental, Caracas, Venezuela
W. ESPINOZA
Affiliation:
Universidad de los Andes, Instituto Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Laboratorio de Ecofisiología de cultivos. Mérida, Venezuela
*
‡Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Summary

This study deals with the ecophysiological response of Criollo cacao cultivars to water deficit during initial establishment phase in an agroforestry system under shade of four timber species using a randomised block design. CO2 assimilation rate (A), transpiration (E) and stomatal conductance (gs), water potentials, pressure–volume curves and fluorescence measurements were studied during two dry and wet seasons. Survival rates, basal diameter and leaf concentrations of K, P and N were also determined. All cultivars exhibited 60% reduction in gs with drought, resulting in 73% decrease in A and E. Despite lower A, electron-transport rates were not significantly affected, suggesting the existence of electron sinks. Photochemical quenching is negatively affected by drought in some cultivars, whereas relative quantum yield of photosystem II and non-photochemical quenching remained the same during both the periods. Cultivars with the highest osmotic adjustment coincided with the highest survival rates, whereas growth and leaf nutrient concentrations were similar in all cultivars.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 48 , Issue 4 , October 2012 , pp. 513 - 522
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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