Copper (Cu) stress affects carbon and antioxidant metabolism in Coffea arabica seedlings

Abstract

Although copper is a micronutrient essential for the normal development of plants, both insufficient and supra optimal doses can disrupt the functioning of metabolism and the production of biomass. To study the biochemical and physiological impacts of deficiency and excess of copper in coffee, we treated 6-month-old seedlings of Coffea arabica L. Catuaí cultivar to three copper treatments: control (0.03 ppm), excess (0.12 ppm) and deficiency (0 ppm) for 60 days. The changes in levels of photosynthetic pigments, biomass allocation, carbohydrate partitioning, antioxidant system and proline levels were evaluated. Under deficiency and excess of copper coffee seedlings showed lower levels of chlorophyll, reduction on dry weight of shoot, lower sugar levels and higher content of hydrogen peroxide. We also observed increased levels of proline and enzymatic activity of the antioxidant system, providing conditions for the reduction of oxidative stress triggered by nutritional imbalance. In general, the results showed that coffee plants invest in antioxidant defense system as an alternative to maintain redox balance when exposed to deficiency or excess copper. However, it is not effective to prevent an increase in lipid peroxidation. Authors may indicate an optimum range for application of copper in coffee.

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