Photochemical Efficiency and Oxidative Metabolism of Tree Species during Acclimation to High and Low Irradiance

The balance between efficiency of absorption and use of light energy is fundamental for plant metabolism and to avoid photoinhibition. Here, we investigated the effects of light environments on the photosynthetic apparatus of tropical tree species of three successional groups (pioneer, mid-, and late successional) subjected to different light conditions: full sunlight (FS), moderate shade (MS), and deep shade (DS). Twenty-nine ecophysiological parameters were correlated with each other. The pioneer species exhibited better photochemical performance and a more efficient antioxidant enzymatic system in comparison with the other successional groups. Plants in FS showed higher intensity of lipid peroxidation, with superoxide dismutase having a prominent role in the antioxidant system. At lower irradiance the enzymatic activity was reduced, and the photochemical efficiency was the preferred way to reduce oxidative damages. P was highly related to photochemical yield, and the N modulation amplified the light harvesting complex in DS to the detriment of the antioxidant system. Despite evidence of cell damage, most species exhibited the ability to adjust to high irradiance. Contrary to expectations, Hymenea courbaril (late-successional) exhibited higher plasticity to fluorescence, nutritional, and antioxidant parameters. Only Carapa guianensis (late-successional) displayed photoinhibitory damage in FS, and Ochroma pyramidale (pioneer) did not survive in DS, suggesting that acclimation to shade is more challenging than to high irradiance.