Ecophysiological traits of two fruit tree species native to the Atlantic Forest acclimated to open areas and to forest coverage

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to determine ecophysiological acclimation strategies in guavirá (Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg.) and sietecapotes (C. guazumifolia (Cambess.) O. Berg.) initial installation as crop for fruit and landscape restoration purposes. We installed orchards under full sun and under the rainforest, and evaluated morpho-physiological acclimation to microenvironments. Guavirá is a species with high plasticity and displays a variety of acclimation responses to survive and grow in contrasting microsites, such as decreasing slenderness, specific leaf area and chlorophyll concentration, and increasing carotenoid concentration and transpiration. Guavirá can then be used to establish orchards, restore deforested areas, and enrich degraded rainforests. In contrast, sietecapotes had very low survival and growth in open areas, but the plants that survived share many of the acclimation strategies with guavirá.