Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence of eggplant grown under different irrigation depths

Abstract

Eggplant has a nutritional, social and economic importance in the world, being grown and marketed in several countries, normally in protected environment. Its production, as a lot of crops, is dependent on factors such as water, light and nutrients. Thus, it was proposed with this study to evaluate leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf temperature in eggplant grown in greenhouse under different irrigations levels. The study was accomplished in a greenhouse, using a completely randomized experimental design with five treatments and eight replications, totaling 40 experimental units. The treatments were consisted of five irrigation depths: 33, 66, 100, 133 and 166% of ETc, which amounted to 133, 266, 403, 536, 669 mm cycle-1, respectively. Photosynthetic rate of eggplant increases with the addition of water depth. The higher values of gas exchange (A, E, gs, Ci, EiUA e EiC) in eggplants, in general, were observed in irrigation, water depths estimated between 123,52 and 166% ETc were used. The chlorophyll fluorescence increased with increasing water depths and leaf temperature decreased with the increase in water depth.