Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The increasing demand for biofuels has provided significant increases in the areas of sugar cane in Brazil and in recent decades,and long periods of drought have limited the production of this species. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of cultivars RB 85-5536 and RB 93-509 of cane sugar on water restriction during the first stages of development. Experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of the Department of Agronomic Engineering at UFS in randomized blocks in factorial2 x 4, two cultivars (RB 85-5536 and RB 93-509) and four levels of water in the soil based on predefined at field capacity (100% Cc, 80% Cc, 60% Cc and 40% Cc), with four replications, each replicate consisting of a plant. Were evaluated the initial fluorescence emission (F0), maximum fluorescence (Fm), the quantum yield of photosystem (Fv/Fm) and fluorescence transient OJIP, indices of photosynthetic pigments and proline contents determined in leaves determined +1. The measurements of emission of fluorescence were performed during the period of seven days every two days, from 10 to 12 am, with the aid of fluorometer (OS-30P) and clips fixed on the central portion of the leaf, the contents of pigments were determined in the same period with the aidofaportable chlorophyllmeter (Clorofilog CFL 1030) whereas the proline content in the end of the experiment. The fluorescence emission levels and rates of photosynthetic pigments decreased with the increase of water restriction in both cultivars. The cultivar RB 93-509 has accumulated higher proline contentat the level of stress 60% of Cc. With the increase of stress severe by water restriction occurs a reduction in total levels of chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic pigment contents from the seventh day of stress in both varieties of sugar cane. The cultivar RB 93-509 presents greater sensitivity to water stress than the cultivar RB 85-5536. / A crescente demanda por biocombustíveis tem proporcionado aumentos significativos das áreas de cana-de-açúcar no Brasil e nas últimas décadas os períodos prolongados de seca têm limitado a produção dessa espécie. Esse trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o comportamento das cultivares RB 85-5536 e RB 93-509 de cana-deaçúcar quanto à restrição hídrica visando à seleção precoce. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação do Departamento de Engenharia Agronômica da UFS em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial 2 x 4, duas cultivares (RB 85- 5536 e RB 93-509) e quatros níveis de água no solo predefinidos com base na capacidade de campo (100% Cc, 80% Cc, 60% Cc e 40% Cc), com quatro repetições, sendo cada repetição constituída por uma planta. Foram avaliadas a emissão de fluorescência inicial (F0), fluorescência máxima (Fm), rendimento quântico do fotossistema (Fv/Fm) e fluorescência transiente OJIP,índices de pigmentos fotossintetizantes e teores de prolina determinados nas folhas +1. As medições da emissão de fluorescência foram realizadas durante o período de sete dias, a cada dois dias, entre 10 e 12 h da manhã, com auxílio de fluorímetro (OS-30P) e clipes fixados na porção mediana do limbo foliar, os índices de pigmentos foram determinados no mesmo período com auxílio de um medidor portátil de clorofila (Clorofilog CFL 1030) enquanto que o teor de prolina no final do experimento.Os níveis de emissão de fluorescência e os índices de pigmentos fotossintéticos reduziram com o aumento da restrição hídrica em ambas cultivar. A cultivar RB 93-509 acumulou maior teor de prolina ao nível de estresse de 60% da Cc. Com o aumento do estresse severo de restrição hídrica ocorre redução total nos níveis de fluorescência da clorofila e índices de pigmentos fotossintéticos ao sétimo dia de estresse em ambas cultivar de cana-de-açúcar. A cultivar RB 93-509 apresenta maior sensibilidade ao estresse hídrico que a cultivar RB 85-5536.

A doença cancro cítrico é considerada uma das mais importantes doenças da citricultura devido ao seu poder de proliferação nas fazendas, e aos danos causados às plantas e frutos. Os prejuízos causados pela presença da doença são consideravelmente preocupantes, pois as principais medidas de controle pelos órgãos responsáveis envolvem a erradicação de plantas infectadas e demais plantas vizinhas, inviabilizando economicamente grandes áreas produtivas. A legislação brasileira exige um extenso protocolo de atividades que necessita ser realizado antes da confirmação do diagnóstico. Atrasos na confirmação do diagnóstico favorecem a proliferação da doença. Assim, qualquer esforço em acelerar esta detecção deve com certeza ter um grande impacto nesta área. Esta é a motivação de nosso trabalho, onde aplicamos a técnica de espectroscopia por imagens de fluorescência em folhas de culturas cítricas com a intenção de avaliar a capacidade de diagnóstico desta técnica em plantas assintomáticas contaminadas no laboratório com cancro cítrico. O objetivo é determinar o instante de tempo mínimo necessário entre a infecção e o diagnóstico preciso da doença. Este estudo foi aplicado para experimentos envolvendo amostras destrutivas e não-destrutivas. Os resultados mostram a possibilidade de aplicar tal técnica na detecção de cancro cítrico. / The citrus canker disease is considered one of the most important citrus diseases due to its ability to spread on farms, and to damage plants and fruits. The damage, caused by the citrus canker, can be devastating, because the main control actions involve the eradication of infected plants and other plants nearby, causing large economic losses. Brazilian law requires an extensive testing protocol to confirm the diagnosis. Delays in diagnosis tests allows the spread of the disease. Therefore, any effort to accelerate this procedure will have a major impact in this area. This is the motivation of our work, where we apply the fluorescence imaging spectroscopy technique on citrus leaves with the goal to evaluate the diagnostic capability of this technique in asymptomatic plants infected with citrus canker in the laboratory. The goal is to determine the minimum time delay between infection and accurate diagnosis of the disease. This study was applied to experiments involving non-destructive and destructive samples. The results show the possibility of applying this technique in the detection of citrus canker.

A doença cancro cítrico é considerada uma das mais importantes doenças da citricultura devido ao seu poder de proliferação nas fazendas, e aos danos causados às plantas e frutos. Os prejuízos causados pela presença da doença são consideravelmente preocupantes, pois as principais medidas de controle pelos órgãos responsáveis envolvem a erradicação de plantas infectadas e demais plantas vizinhas, inviabilizando economicamente grandes áreas produtivas. A legislação brasileira exige um extenso protocolo de atividades que necessita ser realizado antes da confirmação do diagnóstico. Atrasos na confirmação do diagnóstico favorecem a proliferação da doença. Assim, qualquer esforço em acelerar esta detecção deve com certeza ter um grande impacto nesta área. Esta é a motivação de nosso trabalho, onde aplicamos a técnica de espectroscopia por imagens de fluorescência em folhas de culturas cítricas com a intenção de avaliar a capacidade de diagnóstico desta técnica em plantas assintomáticas contaminadas no laboratório com cancro cítrico. O objetivo é determinar o instante de tempo mínimo necessário entre a infecção e o diagnóstico preciso da doença. Este estudo foi aplicado para experimentos envolvendo amostras destrutivas e não-destrutivas. Os resultados mostram a possibilidade de aplicar tal técnica na detecção de cancro cítrico. / The citrus canker disease is considered one of the most important citrus diseases due to its ability to spread on farms, and to damage plants and fruits. The damage, caused by the citrus canker, can be devastating, because the main control actions involve the eradication of infected plants and other plants nearby, causing large economic losses. Brazilian law requires an extensive testing protocol to confirm the diagnosis. Delays in diagnosis tests allows the spread of the disease. Therefore, any effort to accelerate this procedure will have a major impact in this area. This is the motivation of our work, where we apply the fluorescence imaging spectroscopy technique on citrus leaves with the goal to evaluate the diagnostic capability of this technique in asymptomatic plants infected with citrus canker in the laboratory. The goal is to determine the minimum time delay between infection and accurate diagnosis of the disease. This study was applied to experiments involving non-destructive and destructive samples. The results show the possibility of applying this technique in the detection of citrus canker.

The role of disturbance is widely recognized as a fundamental driver of ecological organization from individual species to entire landscapes. Anthropogenic disturbances from military training provide a unique opportunity to examine effects of disturbance on vegetation dynamics, physicochemical soil properties, and ecosystem processes. Additionally, plant functional diversity has been suggested as the key to ecosystem processes such as productivity and nutrient dynamics. I investigated how disturbance and functional composition both singly and in combination affect vegetation dynamics, soil physicochemical properties, and ecosystem processes. I conducted my research at Fort Pickett, Virginia, USA to take advantage of the spatially and temporally predictable disturbance regime. In order to investigate the effect of plant functional composition on ecosystem properties, I used functional groups comprised of species with similar physiology and effects on ecosystem processes (C4 grasses, C3 grasses, legumes, forbs, woody plants). My study showed that two distinct disturbances associated with military training, vehicle maneuvers, and fire; affect functional group abundance, within functional group richness, and total species richness. I found strong effects of vehicle maneuvers on soil physical properties including an increase in bulk density and reduction in soil porosity. Fire also influenced soil physical properties but more indirectly through the reduction of above ground litter inputs. Though many of the measured physicochemical soil properties at Fort Pickett exhibited statistically significant effects of disturbance, the strength of these relationships appears to be modulated by influences of previous land use. I found statistically significant (P < 0.05) effects of disturbance on chlorophyll fluorescence, and effect of functional composition on available soil N- NH4+. In addition, I detected a significant interactive effect of disturbance class and functional composition on soil CO2 flux. The interactive effects of disturbance and functional composition on soil CO2 flux demonstrated how the loss of functional diversity could lead to instability in ecosystem processes in disturbed ecosystems.    In a dynamic ecosystem, I demonstrated that the abundance and diversity of plant functional groups was significantly influenced by disturbance. By experimentally altering the abundance and diversity of these functional groups in a disturbance-mediated ecosystem, I showed that functional groups and presumably species influence key ecosystem processes. / Ph. D.

The progressive increase in the global population and the rapidly changing climate have put unprecedented pressure on crop production. Cowpea is one of the world’s most important leguminous crops, contributing to food security and environmental sustainability. However, cowpea productivity is limited due to waterlogging stress. The main objective of this study was to explore physiological and biochemical mechanisms to understand how cowpea genotypes respond to waterlogging stress. Four studies were conducted in controlled and field conditions to achieve these objectives. Study 1 characterized the waterlogging tolerance of 30 cowpea genotypes in a controlled environment using 24 morphophysiological parameters with waterlogging tolerance coefficients and multivariate analysis methods. 10% of the genotypes exhibited high tolerance to waterlogging stress, and the genotypes UCR 369 and EpicSelect.4 were identified as the most and least waterlogging tolerant, respectively. Study 2 evaluated the key parameters influencing carbon fixation of UCR 369 and EpicSelect.4 at the reproductive stage. The less tolerant EpicSelect.4 experienced high downregulation of stomatal and non-stomatal limiting factors during waterlogging and recovery, resulting in decreased carbon assimilation rates. UCR 369 rapidly developed adventitious roots, maintained biomass, and restored pigments and metabolites to sustain photosynthesis. A two-year field experiment was conducted in study 3 to quantify the effects of waterlogging on the yields, physiology, and biochemistry of cowpeas at different growth stages. The most apparent impact of waterlogging stress occurred at the reproductive stage, followed by the vegetative and maturity growth stages. Studies suggest that diverse cowpea genotypes have distinct physiological and biochemical mechanisms in response to waterlogging stress. In addition, the tolerant genotypes and traits identified herein can be used in genetic engineering and cowpea breeding programs that integrate increased yield with waterlogging stress tolerance.

No description available.

Ozone is known to be the most widespread phytotoxic air pollutant. Ozone causes visible injury, reductions in photosynthesis, growth, and yield. Plant response to ozone may vary with species, varieties, and physiological age. Comparison between sensitive and tolerant cultivars has a key role in assessing ozone damage, investigating the sites of cellular injury, and identifying ozone tolerance mechanism. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of high ozone concentration (200 ppb) as well as ambient ozone concentrations (under field conditions) on net CO2 assimilation and PSII function in plants with different sensitivities to ozone. Two species of plants, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and black cherry (Prunus serotina) were studied. Gas exchange analysis and chlorophyll fluorometry were utilized to characterize physiological function. Two tobacco cultivars, Bel-B and Bel-W3, tolerant and sensitive to ozone, respectively, were grown in a greenhouse supplied with charcoal filtered air and then exposed to 200 ppb ozone for 4hr. Effects on chlorophyll fluorescence, net photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance are described. Quantum yield was calculated from chlorophyll fluorescence and the initial slope of the assimilation-light curve measured by the gas exchange method. Only the sensitive cultivar, Bel-W3, developed visible injury symptoms involving up to 50% of the 5th leaf. The maximum net photosynthetic rate of ozone-treated plants of the tolerant cultivar was reduced 40% compared to control plants immediately after ozone fumigation; however, photosynthesis recovered by 24 hr post fumigation and remained at the same level as control plants. In the sensitive cultivar, on the other hand, ozone exposure reduced maximum net photosynthesis up to 50%, with no recovery, apparently causing permanent damage to the photosystem. Reductions in apparent quantum efficiency, calculated from the assimilation-light curve, differed between cultivars. Bel-B showed an immediate depression of 14% compared to controls, whereas Bel-W3 showed a 27% decline. Electron transport rate (ETR), at saturating light intensity, decreased 58% and 80% immediately after ozone treatment in Bel-B and Bel-W3, respectively. Quantum yield decreased 28% and 36% in Bel-B and Bel-W3, respectively. It can be concluded that ozone caused a greater relative decrease in linear electron transport than maximum net photosynthesis, suggesting greater damage to PSII than the carbon reduction cycle. Two different sensitivity classes of black cherry, tolerant and sensitive, growing under natural environmental conditions in Giles County, VA were assessed for physiological responses to ambient ozone concentrations. Additional measurements were made at two other sites near Blacksburg. Leaf gas exchange rates and visible foliar injury were determined monthly during the growing seasons of 2000, 2001, and 2002 to characterize the relationship of injury to altered photosynthetic function. Ambient ozone levels were sufficient to induce visible symptoms which were highly correlated with a reduction in PnMAX (maximum net photosynthetic rate under saturating light conditions) and à CO2 (quantum yield for carbon reduction) only in sensitive black cherry. Electron transport rate (ETR) and quantum yield of PSII (à PSII) were also reduced in sensitive black cherry. Maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) in sensitive trees was severely damaged by ambient ozone. There were positive correlations between increasing cumulative ozone concentration and substantial reductions in PnMAX and in à CO2 of sensitive trees compared to tolerant trees. There was a negative correlation between chlorophyll content and percent leaf injury in sensitive black cherry / Ph. D.

Plantas medicinais (fitoterápicos) têm uma longa história nos tratamentos de várias desordens de saúde. Nos últimos anos, por suas propriedades medicinais, o interesse no uso de Mikania, um gênero da família Asteraceae, como alternativa ou terapia complementar tem crescido notavelmente. Especificamente, duas espécies de Mikania, M. glomerata e M. laevigata, amplamente conhecidas como \"guaco\" são utilizados para tratar febre, asma, bronquite e outras doenças respiratórias, devido ao seu teor de cumarina, o principal componente desta planta. No entanto, devido à excessiva exploração humana, estas espécies de Mikania se tornaram espécies ameaçadas. O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar o melhor ambiente para o crescimento de M. glomerata e M. laevigata, quantificando os efeitos de quatro tratamentos de radiação, pleno sol e 25, 50 e 75% de interferência da radiação e de duas condições nutricionais do solo, fertilizado e não fertilizado, sobre o teor de clorofila, fluorescência da clorofila, trocas gasosas, anatomia foliar e produção de biomassa vegetal. Os níveis de irradiância e as condições nutricionais do solo afetaram significativamente o crescimento e as respostas fisiológicas das plantas de ambas as espécies Mikania. As plantas que cresceram à sombra apresentaram menores taxas fotossintéticas, enquanto as plantas sob maior radiação apresentaram maiores taxas fotossintéticas e condutância estomática. A redução da intensidade luminosa em 75% resultou em irradiação insuficiente para manter a fotossíntese, influenciando o balanço de carbono e, conseqüentemente, causando um declínio no crescimento e produtividade das plantas. A fotoinibição, avaliada como a razão Fv/Fm, ocorreu somente em plantas crescidas sob pleno sol e 25% da radiação interferência durante o pico mais alto de radiação e temperatura. As maiores concentrações de clorofila, independentemente da adubação, ocorreram em plantas sob 75% da radiação interferência. A espessura da lâmina foliar diminuiu com o aumento da interferência da radiação. As folhas de M. glomerata que não receberam adubação apresentaram, no final do experimento, maior espessura do limbo do que as plantas adubadas nas condições 0 e 25% de interferência da radiação, enquanto que M. laevigata não adubadas apresentaram maior espessura do limbo sob 25 e 50% de interferência da radiação. A densidade estomática aumentou com baixa radiação interferências, e em M. glomerata foi maior em plantas sem adubação. A massa seca total foi maior em plantas sob maior intensidade luminosa, e em plantas adubadas. O uso de fertilizantes e pouco sombreamento é a melhor recomendação para uma maior produção de massa seca, especialmente de folhas, que é o material utilizado na fitoterapia. Em virtude da baixa capacidade de aclimatação a elevado sombreamento destas espécies de Mikania, áreas cultivadas com intensidade luminosa menor do que 50% de luz ambiente irão diminuir a produtividade. Assim, para fins agrícolas, a fim de obter rendimentos elevados, a partir dos resultados desta pesquisa se recomenda o uso de aproximadamente 25% da interferência da radiação para M. laevigata e indistintamente, o cultivo em pleno sol ou interferência da radiação de 25% para M. glomerata. / Medicinal plants (phytotherapics) have a long history as treatments for several health disorders. In recent years, interest in the use of Mikania, a genus of the Asteraceae family, as alternative or complementary therapies for its medicinal properties has grown notably. Specifically, two Mikania species, M. glomerata e M. laevigata, widely know as guaco are used to treat fever, asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases due to its content in coumarin, the main constituent of this plant. However, due to human overexploitation these Mikania species have become endangered species. The objective of the present study was to determine the optimum environment for the growth of M, glomerata and M, laevigata, by quantifying the effects of four light treatments, full sun and 25, 50 and 75% light interference and two soil nutrient conditions, fertilized and unfertilized, on the chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, gas exchange, leaf anatomy and plant biomass production. Light irradiance levels and soil nutrient conditions significantly affected the growth and physiological responses of both Mikania species. The plants that grew in the shade presented lower photosynthetic levels, while the plants under higher radiation had larger photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance. Light intensity reductions greater than that of 75% shade resulted in insufficient irradiation to maintain photosynthesis, influencing carbon balance and consequently leading to a decline in plant growth and productivity. The photoinhibition, evaluated at the rate Fv/Fm, occurred only in plants grown under full sun and 25% of radiation interference during the highest peak of radiation and temperature. The larger concentrations of chlorophyll, regardless fertilizing, occurred in plants under 75% of radiation interference. The thickness of the leaf blade decreased significantly with the increase of radiation interference. However, the M. glomerata leaves that were no fertilized presented, at the end of the experiment, bigger leaf blade thickness than the fertilized plants under 0 and 25% interference radiation conditions, while unfertilized M. laevigata had bigger leaf blade thickness under 25 and 50% interference radiation. The stomatal density enlarged under lower radiation interference, and in M. glomerata it was bigger in unfertilized plants. The total dry mass was bigger in plants under higher light intensity and in fertilized plants. The use of fertilizing and little protection to radiation is the best recommendation to a bigger production of dry mass, especially of leaves, that is the material used in phytotherapie. In view of the low shade acclimation capacity of these Mikania species, light intensity of cultivated areas with less than that of 50% ambient light will decrease the productivity. Thus, for agricultural purposes, in order to obtain high yields, the results of this study suggest trying to achieve approximately 25% ambient light interference with a shade net for M laevigata and indistinctively, the cultivation under full sun or 25% ambient light interference for M. glomerata.

O cancro cítrico é uma das doenças mais temidas da citricultura devido ao seu poder de proli-feração nas fazendas, aos danos causados às plantas e aos frutos e à forma de combate adota-da pelos órgãos responsáveis através da erradicação das plantas contaminadas e de outras em sua vizinhança. No Brasil, um dos principais motivos que minimiza a eficiência da erradicação do cancro cítrico é a confirmação do diagnóstico, que necessita ser realizada em alguns laboratórios credenciados. A análise de muitas amostras em conjunto com o tempo gasto com o transporte aumenta a chance de proliferação da doença no campo. Neste trabalho aplicamos técnicas de espectroscopia da fluorescência em folhas de culturas cítricas na intenção de pro-por um método de diagnóstico do cancro cítrico a ser realizado na fazenda e com resposta em tempo real. As amostras experimentais são folhas de variedades cítricas sadias e contaminadas com cancro ou outras doenças. Iniciamos o trabalho aplicando espectroscopia da fluorescência no laboratório. Os resultados provaram a viabilidade do método, mas revelou uma enorme sobreposição de dados ao tentar discriminar o cancro de outra doença. Análises com-plementares nos revelaram que os experimentos deveriam ser feitos no campo, identificando plantas contaminadas e tomando a fluorescência de folhas sadias como referência. A espec-troscopia da fluorescência no campo foi feita com um espectrômetro portátil. O resultado nos possibilitou propor critérios de discriminação do cancro baseado em figuras de mérito. O melhor critério apresentou 79% de acertos, com 88% de sensibilidade e 68% de especificidade. Concluímos que os valores poderiam ser melhores se a espectroscopia fosse realizada com imagens, pois as variações do espectro ocorrem devido ao posicionamento da fibra na lesão do cancro. Passamos a estudar a espectroscopia das imagens da fluorescência com um sistema baseado em um espectrógrafo. Os resultados provaram a viabilidade do estudo e revelaram particularidades espaciais e espectrais das doenças. Infelizmente essa instrumentação só pode ser usada no laboratório, por isso optamos por desenvolver outro sistema mais simples e robusto, a base de uma roda de filtros com filtros passa-banda. Os re-sultados revelaram novas particularidades espaciais e espectrais das amostras, porém nos revelou a necessidade de um processamento de imagem para obter análises quantitativas. O sistema de imagens com filtro ainda foi usado em outro experimento complementar onde as imagens forneceram resultados quantitativos, provando a funcionalidade da técnica. / Citrus canker is one of the most feared diseases of citrus due to its dissemination in the farms, the damage caused to plants and fruits and how to combat adopted by national government through the eradication of infected plants and others in your neighborhood. In Brazil, one of the main reasons that minimizes the effectiveness of citrus canker`s eradication is the confir-mation of the diagnosis by specialized laboratories. The time spent to transport and to analyses many samples increases the chance of canker spreading in the field. In our work we apply spectroscopic techniques of fluorescence in leaves of citrus crops with the aim to propose a method for diagnosis of citrus canker to be held on the farm and real-time response. The expe-rimental samples are leaves of healthy citrus varieties and contaminated with canker or other diseases. We began the work by applying fluorescence spectroscopy in the laboratory. The results proved the feasibility of the method, but showed a huge overlap of data to try to dis-criminate cancer from other diseases. Further analysis revealed that those experiments should be done in the field, focusing to identify infected plants and taking the fluorescence of healthy leaves as a reference. Fluorescence spectroscopy in the field was made with a portable spectrometer. The result allowed us to propose some criteria for canker discrimination based on figures of merit. The best criteria presents 79% correct tests, with 88% sensitivity and 68% specificity. We conclude that these values could be better if the spectroscopy was performed with images, because the variations of the spectrum are due to the positioning of the fiber over the canker lesion. We study the spectroscopy of fluorescence images with a system based on a spectrograph. The results proved its feasibility and revealed spatial and spectral particular features of the diseases. Unfortunately, this instrumentation can only be used in the laborato-ry, so we decided to develop another system more simple and robust. The new system is based on a filter wheel with band-pass filters. The results revealed new spatial and spectral characteristics of the samples, but revealed the need for an image processing for quantitative analysis. This imaging system was still used in another supplementary experiment where the images have provided quantitative results, proving the functionality of the technique.

<p>The Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is an endosymbiont of higher plant roots. Most land plants and cultivated crops are concerned to AM symbiosis. This endosymbiosis is based on the mutual exchange of nutrients between plant and fungus. Therefore, AM symbiosis leads to an increased demand for photosynthetic products. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathway used by plants during AM symbiosis to increase photosynthetic performance. Therefore, we have carried out a systematic characterization of photosynthesis in Medicago truncatula (M. truncatula), which is a model legume. We observed colonization by the fungus in roots and that AM symbiosis increases the fresh and dry plant biomass. This could be attributed to an increase in both photosynthetic efficiency and capacity in AM plants. Consistent with these observations, AM symbiosis enhanced phosphorus uptake from the soil into roots, stems and leaves, as based on analyses of phosphorus content. Based on equal chl loading, no differences were found regarding D1, Lhcb1 and Lhcb2 protein content in four plant groups. This indicates similar ratio between chl and PSII proteins. Furthermore, AM symbiosis increases the amount of chlorophyll, steady state oxygen evolution activities, maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm), and photosynthetic electron transport rate (about 5 fold). Nevertheless, photoprotection was not affected by AM symbiosis. We observed an increase in weight of seed/fruit and weight of seed/plant in AM plants (about 2 fold). Based on these results, we propose that AM symbiosis increases both the efficiency and the capacity of photosynthetic apparatus in the M. truncatula.</p>