Phenotypic plasticity of Neonotonia wightii and Pueraria phaseoloidesgrown under different light intensities

Abstract

Plants have the ability to undergo morphophysiological changes based on availability of light. The present study evaluated biomass accumulation, leaf morphoanatomy and physiology of Neonotonia wightii and Pueraria phaseoloides grown in full sunlight, as well as in 30% and 50% shade. Two assays were performed, one for each species, using a randomized block design with 10 replicates. A higher accumulation of fresh mass in the shoot of the plants was observed for both species under cultivation in 50% shade, while no differences were detected between the full sunlight and 30% shade. N. wightii and P. phaseoloides showed increase in area and reduction in thickness leaf when cultivated in 50% shade. There were no changes in photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency and evapotranspiration of P. phaseoloides plants because growth environment. However, the shade treatments caused alterations in physiological parameters of N. wightii. In both species, structural changes in the mesophyll occurred depending on the availability of light; however, the amount of leaf blade tissue remained unaltered. Despite the influence of light intensity variation on the morphophysiological plasticity of N. wightii and P. phaseoloides, no effects on biomass accumulation were observed in response to light.

Forage production and quality of tropical forage legumes submitted to shading

“…Neonotonia wightii, Pueraria phaseoloides, Macrotyloma axilare, and Arachis pintoi belong to the Fabaceae family and are often used as forage legumes and are beneficial to agroforestry activities, including soil conservation, weed management, and increases in organic matter and nitrogen in the soil (SANTOS, et al, 2015). Difficulties in the management of Fabaceae as well as high rates of weed infestation during the cultivation of these species are some of the obstacles of their use, as reported in sugarcane producing areas in Brazil (KUVA et al, 2007).…”

Phenotypic variation in arid and semi-arid zones of southern South America: the case of Senna series Aphyllae (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae)

“…Moreover, many works have demonstrated high phenotypic plasticity at specific and infraspecific levels in different genera of Fabaceae (e.g. Schlichting & Levin, 1986;Pappert, Hamrick & Donovan, 2000;Pohlman, Nicotra & Murray, 2005;Ceolin & Miotto, 2012;Santos et al, 2015;Zhmud & Dorogina, 2015) Representatives of Senna Mill. series Aphyllae (Benth.)…”