Changes in the leaf nutrient and pigment contents of Berberis microphylla G. Forst. in relation to irradiance and fertilization

ARENA, MIRIAM E.; MARTÍNEZ PASTUR, GUILLERMO JOSÉ; LENCINAS, MARÍA VANESSA; SOLER, ROSINA; BUSTAMANTE, GIMENA

Heliyon

Cell Press

Lugar: New York; Año: 2020 vol. 6

2405-8440

Berberis microphylla G. Forst. commonly named calafate, is a Patagonian shrub whith small purple berries that grows in humid areas of the steppe, coastal thickets, in edges and gaps of Nothofagus forests, or along streams and rivers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in leaf nutrient (C, N, C/N, P and K) and pigment contents (chlorophyll A and B, ratio between chlorophyll A/B and carotenoids) of B. microphylla plants growing under different light intensities (low = 24%, medium = 57%, and high = 100% of the natural irradiance) and fertilization levels (0 = 0.00 g, 1 = 3.36 g, and 2 = 6.72 g per plant) during two growing seasons (2008/09, 2009/10). Also, relationships among these variables and anthocyanin and total phenol fruit concentrations were determined. The importance of the fertilization has been highlighted, particularly in the content of foliar nutrients, where N, P and K concentrations were highest with fertilization level 2 (2.0%, 0.1% and 0.6%, respectively), while C/N ratio (37.5) was maximum on fertilization level 0. The intensity of light has greatly affected the content of foliar pigments. Thus, chlorophyll A, B and carotenoids were highest under low light intensities (0.4, 0.1 and 0.2 mmol/m2, respectively), while chlorophyll A/B relation was maximum under medium and high light intensity conditions (3.1). Also, the relationship between fruit secondary metabolites (anthocyanin and phenol concentrations) with C and K leaf contents and chlorophylls (A and B) were evidenced. The annual climatic variability between 2008/09 and 2009/10 mainly affected the whole set of variables on both nutrient and pigment concentrations, and resulted in two distinct climate periods, the Niña and Niño phenomena, respectively. The changes observed in the leaf nutrient and pigment contents of B. microphylla could be related to the acclimation capacity of B. microphylla shrubs to changes in environmental conditions via leaf composition arrangements.