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Ecophysiological and anatomic comparison of photosynthetic tissues of cercidium praecox (ruiz & pav. ex hook.) harms (fabaceae, caesalpinioideae)

Abstract:

Cercidium praecox is a green-stemmed deciduous shrub. Physiological and morphoanatomical traits were compared between leaves and stems of the species in natural conditions in Macanao, Nueva Esparta State. The stem showed recycling photosynthesis with a rate of 2.6 ± 0.3 μmol m-2 s-1. The photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, chlorophyll, nitrogen and total soluble protein content was higher in leaves than in stems, although the thickness of the stem chlorenchyma was higher than that of the palisade parenchyma leaf. The stem physiological, biochemical and morphoatanomical traits of C. praecox indicate that the stem has photosynthetic activity, contributing positively to the whole carbon economy.