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We recently demonstrated that, under elevated [CO2] (eCa), coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plants grown at high light (HL), but not at low light (LL), display higher stomatal conductance (gs) than at ambient [CO2] (aCa). We then hypothesized that the enhanced gs at eCa/HL, if sustained at the long-term, would lead to adjustments in hydraulic architecture. To test this hypothesis, potted plants of coffee were grown in open-top chambers for 12 months under HL or LL (ca. 9 or 1 mol photons m-2 day-1, respectively); these light treatments were combined with two [CO2] levels (ca. 437 or 705 µmol mol-1, respectively). Under eCa/HL, increased gs was closely accompanied by increases in branch and leaf hydraulic conductances, suggesting a coordinated response between liquid- and vapor-phase water flows throughout the plant. Still under HL, eCa also resulted in increased Huber value (sapwood area-to-total leaf area), sapwood area-to-stem diameter, and root mass-to-total leaf area, thus further improving the water supply to the leaves. Our results demonstrate that Ca is a central player in coffee physiology increasing carbon gain through a close association between stomatal function and an improved hydraulic architecture under HL conditions.

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Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plants have been assorted as highly suitable to growth at elevated [CO2] (eCa), although such suitability is hypothesized to decrease under severe shade. We herein examined how the combination of eCa and contrasting irradiance affects growth and photosynthetic performance. Coffee plants were grown in open-top chambers under relatively high light (HL) or low light (LL) (9 or 1 mol photons m-2 day-1, respectively), and aCa or eCa (437 or 705 µmol mol-1, respectively). Most traits were affected by light and CO2, and by their interaction. Relative to aCa, our main findings were (i) a greater stomatal conductance (gs) (only at HL) with decreased diffusive limitations to photosynthesis, (ii) greater gs during HL-to-LL transitions, whereas gs was unresponsive to the LL-to-HL transitions irrespective of [CO2], (iii) greater leaf nitrogen pools (only at HL) and higher photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency irrespective of light, (iv) lack of photosynthetic acclimation, and (v) greater biomass partitioning to roots and earlier branching. In summary, eCa improved plant growth and photosynthetic performance. Our novel and timely findings suggest that coffee plants are highly suited for a changing climate characterized by a progressive elevation of [CO2], especially if the light is nonlimiting.

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Ongoing changes in climate, and the consequent mortality of natural and cultivated forests across the globe, highlight the urgent need to understand the plant traits associated with greater tolerance to drought. Here, we aimed at assessing key foliar traits, with a focus on the hydraulic component, that could confer a differential ability to tolerate drought in three commercial hybrids of the most important Eucalyptus species utilized in tropical silviculture: E. urophyla, E. grandis and E. camaldulensis. All genotypes exhibited similar water potential when the 90% stomatal closure (Ψgs90) occurs with Ψgs90 always preceding the start of embolism events. The drought-tolerant hybrid showed a higher leaf resistance to embolism, but the leaf hydraulic efficiency was similar among all genotypes. Other traits presented by the drought-tolerant hybrid were a higher cell wall reinforcement, lower value of osmotic potential at full turgor and greater bulk modulus of elasticity. We also identified that the leaf capacitance after the turgor loss, the ratio between cell wall thickness (t) and lumen breadth (b) ratio (t/b)3, and the minimal conductance might be good proxies for screening drought-tolerant Eucalyptus genotypes. Our findings suggest that xylem resistance to embolism can be an important component of drought tolerance in Eucalyptus in addition to other traits aimed at delaying the development of high tensions in the xylem. Highlight Drought tolerance in tropical Eucalyptus hybrids encompasses a high leaf resistance to embolism and a suite of traits aimed at delaying the development of high tensions in the xylem.

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Auxins are known to regulate xylem development in plants, but their effects on water transport efficiency are poorly known. Here we used tomato plants with the diageotropica mutation (dgt), which has impaired function of a cyclophilin 1 cis-trans isomerase involved in auxin signaling, and the corresponding wild type (WT) to explore the mutation's effects on plant hydraulics and leaf gas exchange. The xylem of the dgt mutant showed a reduced hydraulically weighted vessel diameter (Dh) (24-43%) and conduit number (25-58%) in petioles and stems, resulting in lower theoretical hydraulic conductivities (Kt); on the other hand, no changes in root Dh and Kt were observed. The measured stem and leaf hydraulic conductances of the dgt mutant were lower (up to 81%), in agreement with the Kt values; however, despite dgt and WT plants showing similar root Dh and Kt, the measured root hydraulic conductance of the dgt mutant was 75% lower. The dgt mutation increased the vein and stomatal density, which could potentially increase photosynthesis. Nevertheless, even though it had the same photosynthetic capacity as WT plants, the dgt mutant showed a photosynthetic rate c. 25% lower, coupled with a stomatal conductance reduction of 52%. These results clearly demonstrate that increases in minor vein and stomatal density only result in higher leaf gas exchange when accompanied by higher hydraulic efficiency.

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Xylem embolism resistance varies across species influencing drought tolerance, yet little is known about the determinants of the embolism resistance of an individual conduit. Here we conducted an experiment using the optical vulnerability method to test whether individual conduits have a specific water potential threshold for embolism formation and whether pre-existing embolism in neighbouring conduits alters this threshold. Observations were made on a diverse sample of angiosperm and conifer species through a cycle of dehydration, rehydration and subsequent dehydration to death. Upon rehydration after the formation of embolism, no refilling was observed. When little pre-existing embolism was present, xylem conduits had a conserved, individual embolism-resistance threshold that varied across the population of conduits. The consequence of a variable conduit-specific embolism threshold is that a small degree of pre-existing embolism in the xylem results in apparently more resistant xylem in subsequent dehydrations, particularly in angiosperms with vessels. While our results suggest that pit membranes separating xylem conduits are critical for maintaining a conserved individual conduit threshold for embolism when little pre-existing embolism is present, as the percentage of embolized conduits increases, gas movement, local pressure differences and connectivity between conduits increasingly contribute to embolism spread.

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Xylem resistance to embolism is a key metric determining plant survival during drought. Yet, we have a limited understanding of the degree of plasticity in vulnerability to embolism. Here, we tested whether light availability influences embolism resistance in leaves and stems. The optical vulnerability method was used to assess stem and leaf resistance to embolism in Phellodendron amurense and Ilex verticillata acclimated to sun and shade microenvironments within the same canopy. In both species, we found considerable segmentation in xylem resistance to embolism between leaves and stems, but only minor acclimation in response to light availability. With the addition of a third species, Betula pubescens, which shows no vulnerability segmentation, we sought to investigate xylem anatomical traits that might correlate with strong vulnerability segmentation. We found a correlation between the area fraction of vessels in the xylem and embolism resistance across species and tissue types. Our results suggest that minimal acclimation of embolism resistance occurs in response to light environment in the same individual and that the degree of vulnerability segmentation between leaves and stems might be determined by the vessel lumen fraction of the xylem.

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The overall coordination between gas exchanges and plant hydraulics may be affected by soil water availability and source-to-sink relationships. Here we evaluated how branch growth and mortality, leaf gas exchange and metabolism are affected in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) trees by drought and fruiting. Field-grown plants were irrigated or not, and maintained with full or no fruit load. Under mild water deficit, irrigation per se did not significantly impact growth but markedly reduced branch mortality in fruiting trees, despite similar leaf assimilate pools and water status. Fruiting increased net photosynthetic rate in parallel with an enhanced stomatal conductance, particularly in irrigated plants. Mesophyll conductance and maximum RuBisCO carboxylation rate remained unchanged across treatments. The increased stomatal conductance in fruiting trees over nonfruiting ones was unrelated to internal CO2 concentration, foliar abscisic acid (ABA) levels or differential ABA sensitivity. However, stomatal conductance was associated with higher stomatal density, lower stomatal sensitivity to vapor pressure deficit, and higher leaf hydraulic conductance and capacitance. Increased leaf transpiration rate in fruiting trees was supported by coordinated alterations in plant hydraulics, which explained the maintenance of plant water status. Finally, by preventing branch mortality, irrigation can mitigate biennial production fluctuations and improve the sustainability of coffee plantations.

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The Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) complex is currently comprised of at least eight morphotypes, including several that are likely to be described as new species. It is critical to evaluate whether the morphotypes differ in tolerance to phytosanitary treatments. Temperatures from 0 to 3°C are used as a phytosanitary treatment for some commodities exported from the region and at risk of infestation by the A. fraterculus complex. Description of A. fraterculus morphotypes as new species could result in the annulation of phytosanitary treatment schedules for the new species. This study compared the relative cold tolerance of five populations from three morphotypes of the A. fraterculus complex: Andean, Peruvian, and Brazilian-1. Both a laboratory and wild strain of the Brazilian-1 morphotype were studied. Differences in mortality of third instars of the five A. fraterculus populations reared on nectarines were observed only with short treatment durations at temperatures ranging from 1.38 ± 0.04°C to 1.51 ± 0.08°C (mean ± SEM). Estimated times to achieve the LT99.99682 (probit 9) showed that Brazilian-1 wild, Brazilian-1 laboratory, and Cusco population were the most cold tolerant, followed by Andean and Peruvian, the least cold tolerant morphotype (i.e., Brazilian-1 wild = Brazilian-1 laboratory = Cusco population > Andean > Peruvian). These findings suggest that the current cold treatment schedules of 15 d at ≤ 1.11°C and 17 d at ≤ 1.67°C can be applied as cold treatments to any potential new species that may arise from the A. fraterculus complex.

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The physical, physiological and biochemical changes during the development until the dispersal of rubber tree seeds were evaluated with the purpose of estimating the point at physiological maturity. A total of 30 plants were selected at different points in a commercial planting area and had their flowers marked during the anthesis and every 15 days after marking. Fruits and seeds were collected for analysis of moisture content, dry matter, diameter and length. Details of the anatomy ultra-structure of the seeds were evaluated. The seed emergence, emergency speed index, heat resistant proteins and oxidative stress enzymes were examined. It was observed that fruits reached maximum size at 120 days after anthesis and seeds at 150 days. The seeds acquired germination capacity after 150 days. At 175 days, they presented the highest percentage of dry matter and lowest moisture, in addition to a higher percentage of germination and vigor. Therefore, it was possible to conclude that the physiological maturity of the rubber tree seeds occurs at 175 days after anthesis, and coincides with its maximum physiological quality. At 175 and 180 days post-anthesis, there is a greater expression of heat resistant proteins as well as low molecular weight and greater oxidative stress enzyme activity.

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Coffee is one of the most important global crops and provides a livelihood to millions of people living in developing countries. Coffee species have been described as being highly sensitive to climate change, as largely deduced from modeling studies based on predictions of rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns. Here, we discuss the physiological responses of the coffee tree in the context of present and ongoing climate changes, including drought, heat, and light stresses, and interactions between these factors. We also summarize recent insights on the physiological and agronomic performance of coffee at elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations and highlight the key role of CO2 in mitigating the harmful effects of heat stress. Evidence is shown suggesting that warming, per se, may be less harmful to coffee suitability than previously estimated, at least under the conditions of an adequate water supply. Finally, we discuss several mitigation strategies to improve crop performance in a changing world.

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