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The increase in frequency and intensity of drought events have hampered coffee production in the already threatened Amazon region, yet little is known about key aspects underlying the variability in yield potential across genotypes, nor to what extent higher productivity is linked to reduced drought tolerance. Here we explored how variations in morphoanatomical and physiological leaf traits can explain differences in yield and vulnerability to embolism in 11 Coffea canephora genotypes cultivated in the Western Amazon. The remarkable variation in coffee yield across genotypes was tightly related to differences in their carbon assimilation and water transport capacities, revealing a diffusive limitation to photosynthesis linked by hydraulic constraints. Although a clear trade-off between water transport efficiency and safety was not detected, all the studied genotypes operated in a narrow and/or negative hydraulic safety margin, suggesting a high vulnerability to leaf hydraulic failure (HF), especially on the most productive genotypes. Modeling exercises revealed that variations in HF across genotypes were mainly associated with differences in leaf water vapor leakage when stomata are closed, reflecting contrasting growth strategies. Overall, our results provide a new perspective on the challenges of sustaining coffee production in the Amazon region under a drier and warmer climate. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

International audience; Even after complete stomatal closure, plants lose water through the leaf cuticles and bark. This residual water conductance of leaves (g(leaf-res)) and stems (g(bark)) can negatively impact plant water balance and affect plant survival in seasonally dry environments. However, little is known about the costs and benefits associated with such water leaks, especially on stem level. Here, we characterized the structural and functional determinants of the variability in g(bark) across tropical savanna species to elucidate how variations in this trait are related to contrasting growth strategies. The high variability in g(bark) across species was associated with morphoantomical properties of the outer bark (thickness, density and lenticel investment), and such characteristics influenced both stem transpiration and respiration, suggesting the existence of a trade-off between water conservation and oxygen permeability, which reflected contrasting growth and dehydration tolerance strategies. For instance, species with higher g(bark) and g(leaf-res) presented a fast resource acquisition strategy but were more prone to drought-induced mortality by hydraulic failure. However, model simulations revealed that the relative contribution of g(leaf-res) and g(bark) to overall water balance depended on whether leaves were less or more resistant to cavitation than the stems. Synthesis. By combining correlative studies, experimental results and a modelling exercise, we provide a new understanding of the costs and benefits associated with the variability in g(bark) across tropical savanna species and a new perspective for studies of water relations and carbon economics in species from a hyperdiverse savanna.

The capacity of trees to tolerate and survive increasing drought conditions in situ will depend in part on their ability to acclimate (via phenotypic plasticity) key hydraulic and morphological traits that increase drought tolerance and delay the onset of drought-induced hydraulic failure. However, the effect of water-deficit acclimation in key traits that determine time to hydraulic failure (THF) during extreme drought remains largely untested. We measured key hydraulic and morphological traits in saplings of a hybrid poplar grown under well-watered and water-limited conditions. The time for plants to dry-down to critical levels of water stress (90% loss of stem hydraulic conductance), as well as the relative contribution of drought acclimation in each trait to THF, was simulated using a soil–plant hydraulic model (SurEau). Compared with controls, water-limited plants exhibited significantly lower stem hydraulic vulnerability (P50stem), stomatal conductance and total canopy leaf area (LA). Taken together, adjustments in these and other traits resulted in longer modelled THF in water-limited (~160 h) compared with well-watered plants (~50 h), representing an increase of more than 200%. Sensitivity analysis revealed that adjustment in P50stem and LA contributed the most to longer THF in water-limited plants. We observed a high degree of trait plasticity in poplar saplings in response to water-deficit growth conditions, with decreases in stem hydraulic vulnerability and leaf area playing a key role in delaying the onset of hydraulic failure during a simulated drought event. These findings suggest that understanding the capacity of plants to acclimate to antecedent growth conditions will enable better predictions of plant survivorship during future drought.

Fruit pungency is caused by the accumulation of capsaicinoids, secondary metabolites whose relation to primary metabolism remains unclear. We have selected ten geographically diverse accessions of Capsicum chinense Jacq with different pungency levels. A detailed metabolic profile was conducted in the fruit placenta and pericarp at 20, 45, and 60 days after anthesis aiming at increasing our understanding of the metabolic changes in these tissues across fruit development and their potential connection to capsaicin metabolism. Overall, despite the variation in fruit pungency among the ten accessions, the composition and metabolite levels in both placenta and pericarp were uniformly stable across accessions. Most of the metabolite variability occurred between the fruit developmental stages rather than among the accessions. Interestingly, different metabolite adjustments in the placenta were observed among pungent and non-pungent accessions, which seem to be related to differences in the genetic background. Furthermore, we observed high coordination between metabolites and capsaicin production in C. chinense fruits, suggesting that pungency in placenta is adjusted with primary metabolism.

Liming is beneficial for plants as it promotes pH elevation, neutralization of toxic aluminum, increase in calcium (Ca²+) and magnesium (Mg²+) supply, and provides greater root systems. However, it is known that different species, mainly those native to the Cerrado, respond in different ways to this technique. Given the above, the objective of this study was to determine how Hymenaea stigonocarpa (“Jatobá-do-Cerrado”) seedlings respond to liming in Dystrophic Red Latosol. The plants were cultivated in four-liter pots, submitted to different base saturation (natural soil, 30, 45, 60 and 75% V) and maintained in a greenhouse. Biometrics, biomass, nutritional content and physiological parameters were evaluated. A difference in Ca²+ and Mg²+ contents between leaves and stems was observed, leading to significant reductions in stomatal conductance, transpiration, internal CO2 concentration and internal and external CO2 concentration ratios, resulting in a reduction of the investment in growth and biomass. Given these results, there is no need for liming in the production of H. stigonocarpa seedlings in a Dystrophic Red Latosol. RESUMO A calagem é benéfica para as plantas por promover a elevação do pH, neutralização do alumínio tóxico, aumentar o fornecimento de cálcio (Ca²+) e magnésio (Mg²+) e propiciar maior sistema radicular. No entanto, sabe-se que as espécies, principalmente nativas do Cerrado, respondem de formas distintas a essa técnica. Diante do exposto, o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar de que forma mudas de Hymenaea stigonocarpa (“Jatobá-do-Cerrado”) respondem a calagem em Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico. As plantas foram cultivadas em vasos de quatro litros, submetidas a diferentes saturações de bases (solo natural, 30, 45, 60 e 75% de V) e mantidas em casa de vegetação. Foram avaliadas a biometria, biomassa, teor nutricional e parâmetros fisiológicos. Houve diferença para o teor de Ca²+ e Mg²+ nas folhas e caule e isso culminou na redução significativa da condutância estomática, transpiração, concentração interna de CO2 e a relação concentração interna e externa de CO2, o que levou a redução do investimento em crescimento e biomassa. Diante dos resultados obtidos, para a produção de mudas de H. stigonocarpa em Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico não há necessidade de realizar calagem.