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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2003; 5(6): 631-641
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-44688
Original Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Cold Acclimation Ability and Photosynthesis among Species of the Tropical Coffea Genus

J. C. Ramalho 1 , V. L. Quartin 2 , E. Leitão 1 , P. S. Campos 4 , M. L. C. Carelli 3 , J. I. Fahl 3 , M. A. Nunes 1
  • 1Centro de Investigação das Ferrugens do Cafeeiro, Inst. Inv. Científica Tropical, Av. República, 2784-505 Oeiras, Portugal
  • 2Fac. Ciências Agrárias, Univ. Agostinho Neto, P.O. Box 815, Luanda, Angola
  • 3Centro de Ecofisiologia e Biofísica, Inst. Agronômico de Campinas, P.O. Box 28, 13001-970 Campinas SP, Brazil
  • 4Dept. Fisiologia Vegetal, Estação Agronómica Nacional/INIAP, Av. República, 2784-505 Oeiras, Portugal
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
02 February 2004 (online)

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Abstract

Three Coffea species (C. arabica cv. Icatu, C. canephora cv. Apoatã and C. dewevrei) were tested in order to identify and study the mechanisms of tolerance to low, non-freezing temperatures. Several photosynthesis-related parameters were monitored during a 20-day period of gradual temperature decrease, from 25/20 °C (day/night) down to 15/10 °C, during chilling treatments (15/4 °C), and upon rewarming (25/20 °C). Differences were found among species, both during low temperature exposure and during rewarming. In general, Coffea species showed cold-induced photoinhibition of photosynthesis, which was attributable to biochemical (in vivo ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity and carbohydrate synthesis) and biophysical (antennae functioning, photosystem II efficiency and linear electron transport) inactivation, rather than to stomatal constraints. The moderately low temperature of 15/10 °C was enough to cause a negative impact on net photosynthesis (A), mostly due to low (initial) rubisco activity in all species. However, C. arabica cv. Icatu showed a higher tolerance to chilling and recovered quickly and completely upon rewarming, as assessed from the impacts on the photosynthetic machinery (e.g. A max, F o, F v/F m, F v′/F m′, q P, φ e, rubisco activity) and on carbohydrate metabolism. Such lesser effects are likely to be related to the strong increases and higher contents of zeaxanthin, lutein and β-carotene that presumably increased the ability to dissipate excitation energy and contributed to protect the photosynthetic apparatus. During cold exposure, a significant reduction of the α/β carotene ratio, which is considered an acclimation feature, was observed solely in C. arabica cv. Icatu. However, C. canephora cv. Apoatã and, especially, C. dewevrei showed to be highly cold-sensitive. In these latter species, the photoinhibitory impairments to photosynthesis were stronger, probably due to the lower contents of protecting pigments during chilling conditions that lead to a higher vulnerability to excess excitation energy. Moreover, the mesophyll impairments (e.g. A max, F v/F m, φ e) became significant even at moderately low temperatures of 15/10 °C, and a lower ability to recover after chilling exposure was observed. The limitation of in vivo rubisco activity and A max may have been due to substrate limitation, but disturbances in sugar metabolism could also play an important role in the expression of chilling sensitivity in C. canephora cv. Apoatã and C. dewevrei.

Key words

Coffea sp. - carotenoids - chilling - chlorophyll a fluorescence - gas exchange - photoinhibition - photosynthetic acclimation - rubisco activity - sugars - thermal dissipation.

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J. C. Ramalho

Centro de Investigação das Ferrugens do Cafeeiro
Inst. Inv. Científica Tropical

Av. República

2784-505 Oeiras

Portugal

Email: cochichor@mail.telepac.pt

Section Editor: B. Demmig-Adams

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