Gas exchange and leaf water potential were investigated with regard to water stress in potted 6-month old plants of Copaifera langsdorffii. Leaf water potential (Ψ = -2.0 MPa) in stressed plants was near the osmotic potential (π = -2.2 MPa) at 0900 h during 22 d with water stress. Transpiration rates (if were in linear relation to stomatal conductance (gs) during stress, while water potential and net photosynthetic rate (PN) at 0900 h were in a curvilinear relation. More pronounced decrease of P N occurred only at gs between 0.01 to 0.08 mol nr2 s-1. Increase in water use efficiency (WUE) coincided with morning Ψ diminution from -2.0 MPa to -2.2 MPa. This 10 % decrease in Ψ corresponded to a 60 % decrease in gs (from 0.15 to 0.06 mol m*2 s*1). When pre-dawn Ψ (-3.4 MPa) was close to the Ψ measured at 0900 h (-3.5 MPa), both the and gs were around zero. Therefore, Ψ at 0900 h, π and values of gas exchange were closely related during the days of stress. Values of Ψ for zero and for stomatal closure (-3.5 MPa) were in the same range for sclerophyllous plants.
The influence of air humidity on leaf-air gas exchange and leaf water potential (4^) was investigated during daily courses in control and water stressed potted young plants of Copaifera langsdorffii. When leaf-air water vapour concentration difference (AW) increased during the day, stomatal conductance (g^) and net photosynthetic rate (P]vj) decreased under both soil moistures. Moderate AW induced lower values of g^ and Pn unwatered than control plants, High AW in atmosphere produced strong depression in g^ (from 0.22 to 0,01 mol m'^ s’’) and (from 6.5 to 0.7 pmol m'2 s'*) in control plants around midday, with recuperation of T'. Expected conductance tese) was calculated as fimction of AW, which was useful for discriminating soil to atmosphere water stress. In špite of momentary T or soil water stress, P^, g^, and water use efficiency decreased when AW increased during day course.