Modificações anatômicas e ecofisiológicas de Piper aduncum (L.) em diferentes pontos de uma voçoroca

Abstract

Processes such as uncontrolled urbanization and expansion of agriculture, promote environmental degradation, and it is increasingly common the emergence of erosion like gullies. This erosion is characterized by presenting three regions (edge, slope and bottom) different from the soil fertility, light intensity and water availability. These characteristics that can be mitigated with aiding the presence of species able to establish naturally and tolerate several pressures that gully may have. This study aims to promote more detailed studies of the anatomical and ecophysiological changes in plants that are in different situations of a gully at Alfenas-MG and relate these data to the adaptive plasticity and tolerance to adverse conditions throughout the year. Gas exchange data samples were collected with a portable gas analyzer infrared (IRGA) from January to October and later, blades of cross cuts and paradermic of Piper aduncum leaves to carry out comparative analysis were made. The study also conducted soil analysis for characterization and environmental monitoring. The region edge showed the highest average for all gas exchange parameters analyzed (net CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, carboxylation efficiency and water use efficiency), followed by the bottom and the slope of the gully. Changes related to leaf anatomy also had higher average in the edge region, and only the polar diameter thicknesses were changed significantly by shading. No statistical differences were observed for the polar diameter of P. aduncum. These results indicated that P. aduncum shows good ability to acclimatization in both environments with higher incidence of light as in shaded environments.