Lower oxidative damage and cell wall loosening, mediated or not by auxin, as part of the tolerance mechanism of Paubrasilia echinata morphotypes in the shade and full sun

Abstract

Paubrasilia echinata presents three morphotypes that differ from each other in leaf morphology (small morphotype-SM, medium morphotype-MM, and large morphotype-LM) with indications of divergence between them regarding irradiance tolerance. The present study aimed to identify possible physiological and growth patterns in P. echinata morphotypes under contrasting irradiance. The growth and photosynthesis of SM were inhibited in the full sun, and those of MM and LM, in the shade. The auxin contents of the three morphotypes increased in the full sun. However, in MM and LM, this increase was 5 times greater. The oxidative damage (hydrogen peroxide-H 2 O 2 and lipid peroxidation-MDA content) of SM were higher in the full sun and of MM and LM in the shade. The stem hemicelluloses and CO 2 assimilation decreased in shade for SM, and sun for MM and LM. The shade tolerance of SM and the full sun tolerance of MM and LM were associated with lower oxidative damage and cell wall loosening (lower hemicelluloses content) in the photo-promoted treatments. The integration of the lower oxidative damage with cell wall loosening seems to represent an essential part of the tolerance mechanism of P. echinata morphotypes in the shade and full sun.