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Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as respostas biométricas e fi siológicas de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.) ao defi cit hídrico (DH), em diferentes fases fenológicas. Os genótipos IACSP 94-2094 e IACSP 96-2042 foram submetidos a DH nas fases de crescimento inicial, crescimento máximo e de acúmulo de sacarose no colmo. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado. A suscetibilidade ao DH foi determinada pela redução de matéria seca do colmo e do conteúdo de sólidos solúveis no caldo. O defi cit hídrico causou redução nas trocas gasosas, nas três fases fenológicas, em ambos os genótipos. Foi observada menor altura das plantas, menor acúmulo de matéria seca do colmo e de sólidos solúveis, e redução no número e comprimento de entrenós, apenas na fase de crescimento inicial, no clone IACSP 96-2042. Na fase de crescimento inicial, observou-se tolerância ao DH no genótipo IACSP 94-2094, com evidências de aclimatação fi siológica, e redução na produção de fi tomassa e de sólidos solúveis no genótipo IACSP 96-2042, como resposta à menor condutância estomática e à menor efi ciência aparente de carboxilação da fotossíntese. Independentemente da fase fenológica, o genótipo IACSP 94-2094 foi tolerante ao defi cit hídrico, pois manteve a produção de fi tomassa mesmo com redução das trocas gasosas.Termos para indexação: Saccharum, crescimento, fotossíntese, seca. Biometric and physiological responses to water defi cit in sugarcane at different phenological stagesAbstract -The aim of this work was to evaluate the biometric and physiological responses of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) to water defi cit (WD), during different phenological phases. Genotypes IACSP 94-2094 and IACSP 96-2042 were subjected to WD conditions during the initial, maximum and sucrose accumulation phases. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design. Susceptibility to WD was established by reduction in stalk dry matter and soluble solids. Water defi cit reduced leaf gas exchange in all phenological phases of both genotypes. Lower plant height, less stalk dry matter and soluble solids, and reduction in number and length of internodes were only observed during the initial growth phase of the IACSP 96-2042 clone. In the initial growth phase, tolerance to WD was observed for IACSP 94-2094, with evidence of physiological acclimation, and for IACSP 96-2042 in reduction phytomass production and its soluble solid content, caused by lower stomatal conductance and lower apparent carboxylation effi ciency which limit photosynthesis. Regardless of the phenological phase, genotype IACSP 94-2094 was tolerant to WD, since its phytomass production was maintained even with impairment of leaf gas exchange.

Resumo -Foram avaliadas as respostas das trocas gasosas à irradiância, à temperatura, ao déficit de pressão de vapor e à concentração interna de CO 2 em plantas jovens de laranjeira 'Valência', tangor 'Murcote' e lima ácida 'Tahiti', sob condições controladas. As taxas máximas de assimilação de CO 2 foram de 9,8, 12,8 Photosynthetic responses of three citrus species to environmental factorsAbstract -Gas exchange responses to irradiance, temperature, air vapor pressure deficit and intercellular CO 2 concentration were evaluated in young plants of sweet orange 'Valência', tangor 'Murcote' and acid lime 'Tahiti' plants, under controlled conditions. Maximum rates of CO 2 assimilation were around 9.8, 12.8 and 13.0 µmol m -2 s -1 , respectively, for 'Valência', 'Murcote' and 'Tahiti', and these differences were related to stomatal conductance and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency. Light saturation of photosynthesis was around 750 µmol m -2 s -1 for 'Valência', whereas 'Murcote' and 'Tahiti' did not show evident light saturation, exhibiting small increases of CO 2 assimilation above 1,000 µmol m -2 s -1 . The CO 2 compensation point was 4.8, 5.8 and 5.4 Pa for 'Valência', 'Murcote' and 'Tahiti', respectively, indicating differences in photorespiration of these citrus species. Leaf temperatures between 25 o C and 30 o C were optimum for photosynthesis of 'Valência', whereas this optimum was around 30 o C for 'Murcote' and 'Tahiti'. At temperatures above or below the optimum range, CO 2 assimilation was reduced by partial decrease of stomatal conductance and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency. Reduced CO 2 assimilation rate was also caused by increasing vapor pressure deficit from 1.5 to 3.5 kPa, and this effect enhanced when temperature increased from 28 o C to 35 o C.

Xylem vulnerability to embolism represents an important trait to determine species distribution patterns and drought resistance. However, estimating embolism resistance frequently requires time‐consuming and ambiguous hydraulic lab measurements. Based on a recently developed pneumatic method, we present and test the “Pneumatron”, a device that generates high time‐resolution and fully automated vulnerability curves. Embolism resistance is estimated by applying a partial vacuum to extract air from an excised xylem sample, while monitoring the pressure change over time. Although the amount of gas extracted is strongly correlated with the percentage loss of xylem conductivity, validation of the Pneumatron was performed by comparison with the optical method for Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves. The Pneumatron improved the precision of the pneumatic method considerably, facilitating the detection of small differences in the (percentage of air discharged [PAD] < 0.47%). Hence, the Pneumatron can directly measure the 50% PAD without any fitting of vulnerability curves. PAD and embolism frequency based on the optical method were strongly correlated (r2 = 0.93) for E. camaldulensis. By providing an open source platform, the Pneumatron represents an easy, low‐cost, and powerful tool for field measurements, which can significantly improve our understanding of plant–water relations and the mechanisms behind embolism.

In this review we re-visit and discuss the current knowledge on ecophysiology of citrus trees, addressing the influence of environmental conditions on citrus photosynthesis. Knowledge of physiological responses of citrus trees to their surrounding environment is essential in order to improve crop production and plant development, both being consequences of appropriate horticultural management in citrus orchards. In this context, citrus photosynthesis is addressed as the primary source of carbon and energy for plant growth and development. The photosynthetic activity on both a daily and a seasonal scale is reviewed, taking into consideration the physiological aspects related to seasonal variation of photochemical and biochemical activities, stomatal conductance and leaf water potential. These aspects are treated for citrus plants growing in subtropical climates with varying environmental conditions, such as moderate to severe drought during the winter season. In addition, the possible inhibitory/stimulatory effects of carbohydrate metabolism on citrus photosynthesis are discussed with regard to the source-sink relationship. Field experimentation that enhances knowledge concerning citrus ecophysiology in subtropical climates is highlighted. Among interesting subjects to be unraveled by future research, we may point out the effects of low temperatures on citrus photosynthesis and water relations, the nature of the relationship between leaf carbohydrate content and photosynthesis, and the significance of photosynthesis in different canopy layers and positions in relation to the total carbon gain in mature citrus trees.