Photosynthetic capacity and specific leaf mass in twenty woody species of Cerrado vegetation under field conditions

Abstract

Photosynthetic capacity on area (P(Nmaxa)) and mass bases (P(Nmaxm)) and specific leaf mass (SLM) were determined in twenty adult woody species of Cerrado under field conditions. The mean values obtained for P(Nmaxa) [11.4 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1], P(Nmaxm) [78 μmol(CO2) kg-1 s-1] and SLM (150 g m-2) were compared with mean values found for deciduous and evergreen sclerophyllous species growing also under field conditions. P(Nmaxm) and SLM were statistically different among deciduous, Cerrado and evergreen sclerophyllous species. There was a gradual decrease of P(Nmaxm) and an increase of SLM from deciduous to evergreen sclerophyllous species. Woody species of Cerrado showed mean values of P(Nmaxm) and SLM between deciduous and evergreen species indicating its brevideciduousness. The comparison using mean values of P(Nmaxm) and SLM belonging to deciduous, Cerrado and evergreen sclerophyllous species was suitable to confirm the interdependence among leaf life span, structure and physiological attributes of leaf.