Towards a more comprehensive understanding of fog foliar water uptake
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Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
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Tese de doutorado
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Membros da banca
Lázaro Eustáquio Pereira Peres
Ana Silvia Franco Pinheiro Moreira
Geraldo Luiz Gonçalves Soares
Fernando Henrique Aguiar Vale
Ana Silvia Franco Pinheiro Moreira
Geraldo Luiz Gonçalves Soares
Fernando Henrique Aguiar Vale
Resumo
Foliar water uptake plays an important role in the physiology of some species, especially those that occur in foggy environments. Fog may be the only source of water for some particular vegetation, especially in the dry season, making the occurence o fog an alternative source of water for the vegetation. Thus, the objective of this thesis was to evaluate ultrastructural, physiological, biochemical and phenological attributes of plant species with different leaf absorption capacities that occur in environments subjected to fog. The chemical composition of the cuticle and the proportion of cell wall components interfere with leaf water uptake. Carbon assimilation is momentarily affected by leaf water absorption, but there has been a decrease in water loss through transpiration. The water status, evaluated through water potential, was benefited by leaf water uptake, demonstrating similar values of water potential in rainy season and in dry season with fog. Foliar water uptake increased thermotolerance, reduced the possibility of photoinhibition and improved antioxidant system, especially in species that absorb a large amount of water. The presence of fog, along with the absorption of water by the leaves, interferes with the phenology of a deciduous plant species, delaying the fall of its leaves. Thus, we conclude that leaf water uptake, especially fog, plays a key role in maintaining various plants in their habitats. The strategy of absorbing more water, although slowly, would be the best strategy for plants in the long term to cope with possible climate changes.
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Fog, Leaf absorption, Photosynthesis, Cuticle, Phenology, Cell wall, Thermotolerance