Physiological Characterization of Two Tropical Epiphyte Species: Dyckia distachya and Vriesea platynema (Bromeliaceae)

Leaf extracts of two species of bromeliads (Vriesea platynema and Dyckia distachya) differing in their phenotype were investigated in this study. Physiological and biochemical changes combined with the photosynthetic behavior were investigated. Dyckia distachya showed superiority in chlorophylls, carotenoids and total carbohydrates. Vriesea platynema showed higher starch content, light and CO2 flow curves following a quadratic model. We find out that Dyckia distachya has an efficient mechanism for surviving adverse environmental factors.