Recruitment Niches of Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong: Functional Acclimations to Light

Vicente Naves,Moacir Pasqual,Evaristo Castro,Serge Rambal,João Barbosa

doi:10.3390/f9050266

Vicente Naves, Moacir Pasqual + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/f9050266

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Abstract

Adjustments that a tree species displays in acclimating to light conditions may explain its fate in different forest successional stages. Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong is a tree found in contrasting light environments and used in reforestation programs because of its rapid growth. This study analyzed the performance of tamboril seedlings grown in three light environments: FS—full sun (100% of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and a red/far-red ratio (R/FR) of 1.66), S—shade net (38% of PAR and a R/FR of 1.54) and I—Insulfilm® (Insulfilm, São Paulo, Brazil) shade cloth (24% of PAR and a R/FR of 0.69). Greater net assimilation, higher root/shoot ratio, higher stomatal density, and reduced leaf area are some of the functional traits developed by tamboril to acclimate to full sun. On the other hand, a larger leaf area associated with a greater specific leaf area, higher leaf area ratio, higher leaf number and leafing intensity, as well as higher chlorophyll and carotenoid contents are among the most important traits for tamboril to acclimate to shade. The seedlings growing in FS displayed the best quality index. However, the traits developed in the nursery under each light condition could promote the successful installation and survival of tamboril seedlings under similar conditions in the field.

Highlights

Helping recover a degraded forest ecosystem by introducing either endemic or exotic trees is an activity that requires knowledge of those species’ ecology and their interactions with abiotic factors such as light availability, quality, and duration [1]
This paper aims to determine which types of acclimation, in relation to variation in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and the spectral quality of three light environments, might account for such a wide spectrum of recruitment niches adopted by E. contortisiliquum in the forest succession
E. contortisiliquum has ample capacity for ecophysiological acclimation that may facilitate its recruitment into various light gradient niches and explain its wide geographical distribution, as shown by previous empirical field observations

Summary

Introduction

Helping recover a degraded forest ecosystem by introducing either endemic or exotic trees is an activity that requires knowledge of those species’ ecology and their interactions with abiotic factors such as light availability, quality, and duration [1]. The knowledge of functional processes for tropical forest species, especially responses to light, is important to preserve plants with high economic potential and is crucial to guide the production of suitable seedlings for reforestation programs [2,3,4]. The differences in light quantity and quality in gaps and understory locations have direct effects on seed germination, seedling growth, and fitness [5,6].

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