Name: JAN DA VITÓRIA
Publication date: 11/08/2025
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological and biochemical responses of Theobroma cacao L. leaves grown under different light conditions (full sun, Cabruca and agroforestry system – AFS), focusing on chlorophyll a fluorescence, photosynthetic pigments and non-structural carbohydrates. The clones PH16, PS1319 and CEPEC 2002 were analyzed over the course of one year. The results revealed that the AFS and Cabruca systems favored photochemical efficiency, with higher values of Fv/Fm and Y(II), while full sun induced partial photoinhibition, mainly during peak light hours. Total chlorophyll content was higher under shade, especially in PS1319 in the AFS. In contrast, PH16 maintained high values even under full irradiance, evidencing greater tolerance to light stress. Sucrose accumulation varied between clones and environments, with emphasis on PH16 in SAF and PS1319 in Cabruca. Multivariate analysis (PCA) confirmed the physiological separation between clones and the influence of the environment on photosynthetic efficiency. The results indicate that clones PH16 and PS1319 present high physiological and biochemical plasticity, being promising for systems with different light regimes.
