Estudo das vias de descarboxilação da fotossíntese C4 em cana-de-açúcar submetida ao déficit hídrico

Abstract

C4 plants have been classified into three groups based on the enzymes used to decarboxylate C4 acids in the bundle sheath: NADP-ME, NAD-ME and PEPCK subtypes. Numerous molecular, biochemical and physiological evidences indicate that C4 plants could exhibit a certain degree of flexibility in the use of the three established decarboxylation mechanisms, depending on environmental factors. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the modulation of the pathways of decarboxylation of the C4 photosynthesis in sugarcane (NADP-ME specie) under water deficit. The experiment was realized with two genotypes - RB92579 (tolerant to water deficit) and SP80-3280 (susceptible to water deficit) submitted to four treatments: control (normal conditions of water supply), moderate stress (-1,5 to -1,8 MPa), severe stress (below -2,0 MPa) and recovery (48 hours after rehydration). Leaf water potential, leaf gas exchange and biomass production were measured for the physiological characterization of the plants. Changes in the transcriptional responses of genes encoding C4-cycle enzymes (NADP-ME, NAD-ME, PEPCK, AspAT, AlaAT, PEPC, NADP-MDH and PPDK) and the activities of the enzymes NADP-ME, NAD-ME, PEPCK, AspAT and AlaAT were analyzed by RT-qPCR and spectrophotometry, respectively. Under water deficit conditions the genotypes SP80-3280 was more sensitive to drought stress in terms of increased loss of above ground biomass and lower leaf water potential. It also showed less capacity of photosynthetic recovery following rehydration compared to the tolerant genotypes RB92579. The analysis of transcriptionals and of the activities of enzymes involved in the C4 photosynthetic pathway showed that sugarcane uses the PEPCK pathway as a decarboxylation mechanism in addition to the NADP-ME, which was more evident under water deficit conditions for both the drought tolerant and susceptible genotypes. Finally, the results here obtained, together with the existing information, do not support the established classification of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) as a classical NADP-ME C4 subtype, but instead should be considered as a NADP-ME + PEPCK species.