Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of water deficit and the recovery potential following rehydration, on the metabolism of Campomanesia xanthocarpa seedlings. The seedlings were distributed in two groups: the first group was the control, in which, plants were hydrated periodically in order to maintain 70% water holding capacity and the second was the treatment group characterized by stress, in which irrigation was suspended until the photosynthetic rate showed levels close to zero, at which point the plants were once again rehydrated with subsequent daily irrigation for one week, maintaining the water holding capacity at 70%. C. xanthocarpa shows a reduction in stomatal conductance and photosystem PSII efficiency. Water deficit decreases the water potential in the leaves and all the traits of the photosynthetic metabolism in C. xanthocarpa seedlings in twenty days of suspension of irrigation. These are later recovered with the re-establishment of the water supply. However, exposure of the seedlings to a second cycle of water deficit during the evaluation period demonstrated that the metabolism traits do not re-establish equilibrium.

Key words: Cerrado, guabiroba, photosynthesis.