Phytoextraction is an important technique used for the decontamination of areas polluted by lead. Consequently, an understanding of the physiological responses to tolerance of tropical species subjected to increasing levels of contamination is fundamental before considering their use as phytoextractors in contaminated areas. The objective of this study was to assess the lead (Pb) uptake and the tolerance of Ricinus communis L. The plants were cultivated in nutrient solution in a greenhouse under controlled conditions. Lead was tested at concentrations of 0, 100, 200 and 400 µmol L -1 . The experimental set-up was a block design, using a 4 x 1 factorial scheme, with three replicates. Biometric analyses, photosynthesis rates, and Pb content in the nutritive solution as well as in roots and shoots were performed. In conclusion, R. communis L is a hyperaccumulator species for Pb and presents tolerance properties in lead light concentration. Lead uptake and tolerance of Ricinus communis L. Pontencial fitoextrator de Ricinus communis L. para chumbo:A fitoextração é uma técnica remediadora importante para áreas contaminadas por chumbo (Pb), sendo importantes os estudos que relacionam a tolerância de espécies de clima tropical, desenvolvidas em níveis crescentes de contaminação, com a sua fisiologia, para que possam ser cultivadas como fitoextratoras em áreas contaminadas. Este trabalho teve o objetivo de estudar a espécie Ricinus communis L. como potencial fitoextratora de Pb. As plantas foram cultivadas em solução nutritiva, em casa de vegetação, sob condições semi-controladas. Testaram-se as concentrações 0, 100, 200 e 400 µmol Pb L -1 . Os experimentos foram instalados em blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4 x 1, com três repetições. Foram realizadas análises biométricas e medidas as taxas de fotossíntese, bem como as concentrações de Pb na solução nutritiva, nas raízes e na parte aérea das plantas. Concluiu-se que R. communis L é uma espécie hiperacumuladora e apresenta tolerância ao Pb em baixas concentrações.Palavras-chave: chumbo, fitorremediação, mamona, metal pesado

The Amazonian peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) has been grown for heart-of-palm production under subtropical conditions. As we did not see any substantial study on its photosynthesis under Amazonian or subtropical conditions, we carried out an investigation on the diurnal and seasonal variations in photosynthesis of peach palms until the first heartof-palm harvest, considering their relationship with key environmental factors. Spineless peach palms were grown in 80-L plastic pots, under irrigation. Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence emission measurements were taken in late winter, mid spring, mid summer and early autumn, from 7:00 to 18:00 h, with an additional chlorophyll fluorescence measurement at 6:00 h. The highest net CO 2 assimilation (P N ), observed in mid summer, reached about 15 μmol m -2 s -1 , which was about 20% higher than the maximum values found in autumn and spring, and 60% higher than that in winter The same pattern of diurnal course for P N was observed in all seasons, showing higher values from 8:00 to 9:00 h and declining gradually from 11:00 h toward late afternoon. The diurnal course of stomatal conductance (g s ) followed the same pattern of P N , with the highest value of 0.6 mol m -2 s -1 being observed in February and the lowest one (0.23 mol m -2 s -1 ) in September. The maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (F v /F m ) was above 0.75 in the early morning in all the months. The reversible decrease was observed around midday in September and October, suggesting the occurrence of dynamic photoinhibition. A significant negative correlation between the leaf-air vapour pressure difference (VPD leaf-air ) and P N and a positive correlation between P N and g s were observed. The photosynthesis of peach palm was likely modulated mainly by the stomatal control that was quite sensible to atmospheric environmental conditions. Under subtropical conditions, air temperature (T air ) and VPD leaf-air impose more significant effects over P N of peach palm than an excessive photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). The occurrence of dynamic photoinhibition indicates that under irrigation, peach palms appeared to be acclimated to the full-sunlight conditions under which they have been grown.

Gariroba palm, native to Brazil, produces bitter heart-of-palm, consumed as vegetable in salads, as well as in other Brazilian recipes. This research was carried out in field condition to evaluate diurnal and seasonal variation of gas exchange of gariroba palms cultivated under subtropical conditions, considering their interrelation with some climate elements. Plants were evaluated within two consecutive years, grown under field conditions and irrigated, spaced 2x1 m. Net assimilation of CO2 (PN), stomatal conductance (g s ), transpiration (E), leaf temperature (T l ) within the chamber and the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) were evaluated. Water use efficiency (WUE) was estimated by the ratio: WUE = PN/E. Net CO2 assimilation (PN), showed a plateau in May, observed from 9:30 to 14 h, reaching an average of 5.4 μmol m-2s-1, then declining toward late afternoon. As far as August is concerned, PN increased from the early morning until 11 h, reaching the maximum value of 9.0 µmol m-2s-1. From then on it decreased reaching 6.0 µmol m-2s-1 at 14 h. Gariroba palms cultivated and even under lower autumn and winter temperatures presented gas exchange characteristics consistent to climatic elements.

Optimizing the use of N for food production is a major challenge in agricultural systems. The transformation of nitrogen (N) into crop production results from intricate pathways, depending on plants, as well environment and fertilization regimes, which affect the N use efficiency (NUE) of plants. In this context, lemon trees (Citrus limon) attain maximum harvest index at lower leaf N concentrations compared to sweet orange trees (Citrus sinensis), and the processes governing these plant responses are not well known. The aim of this study was to understand how the higher NUE in lemons trees is constructed based on growth and biomass partitioning evaluation as well as photochemical and biochemical characteristics of photosynthesis. To attain this goal we evaluated growth, photosynthesis and biochemical characteristics in lemon and sweet orange trees under two different N levels over fourteen months. We hypothesized that higher NUE in lemon trees is affected by plant capacity to grow with economy on nutrient resources. Furthermore, lemon trees could be more efficient in CO2 assimilation in non-limiting environmental conditions. We found that higher NUE in lemon trees was explained in part by the ability of trees to invest greater biomass in leaves instead of roots, even though this species exhibited lower relative recovery efficiency of N from the substrate than the sweet orange. We also found that lemon trees had higher relative growth rate than sweet oranges, despite net CO2 assimilation and dark respiration were similar between species. As a consequence, we suggested that lemons could exhibit a lower biomass construction cost than oranges. Because lemon presented lower N concentration than sweet orange trees, the former exhibited better photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE: 55─120 mmol CO2 g N−1 day−1) compared to the sweet orange (PNUE: 31─68 mmol CO2 g N−1 day−1). Lemon trees also exhibited a higher relative rate of electron transport per unit of chlorophyll (ETR/chlor: 350─850) compared to orange trees (ETR/chlor: 300–550) either at low or high N supply. These characteristics were likely associated with transport facilitation of CO2 to the catalytic sites of plants. In fact, improved growth of lemon trees results from an array of events explained mostly by increase in leaf area and associated low construction cost despite N supply.

The harvest timing of peach palm stems for heart-of-palm production is mainly defined by the height and diameter of the stem. Spear leaf parameters could be used in the field to obtain a higher heart-of-palm yield. The aim of this study is to verify if the length and opening of the spear leaf are related to the peach palm heart production. Three harvests were carried out in Campinas (SP), over a period of one year. Before harvest the plants were measured: main stem circumference, height, number of tillers and leaves, length and degree of spear leaf opening. After stem harvest, heart-of-palm production was evaluated. Regardless of the harvest date, the length of the first-rate heart-of-palm was longer when the spear leaf was open. Total mass production of heart-of-palm as a function of spear leaf opening is variable and dependent on weather conditions. When there was a difference in total mass production, this was higher when spear leaf was open. There was no correlation between spear leaf length and total heart-of-palm production. Although there may be an increase in the number of stalks, this had not resulted in a significant effect in terms of mass. The insertion of the spear leaf openness criterion in the determination of the harvest timing may not be worthwhile, since the payment to the producer occurs on the total mass of first-rate heart-of-palm, which may not be higher due to the degree of spear leaf opening.