Temporal and spatial variability in photosynthetic activity of Vitellaria paradoxa in agroforestry parklands of Burkina Faso

This study investigated the temporal and spatial variation in photosynthetic activity of Vitellaria paradoxa (shea tree) growing in agroforestry parklands across two contrasting climatic zones of Burkina Faso. Measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll content, leaf temperature, stomatal conductance, and environmental variables were conducted from April to December 2023 to assess physiological responses to climatic variability. Significant differences were observed between the northern and southern Sudanian phytogeographical zones, particularly in chlorophyll content, energy dissipation mechanisms, and photosynthetic performance. Trees in the more humid southern Sudanian zone exhibited higher chlorophyll content and better photosynthetic efficiency than those in the drier northern zone. Leaf temperature was strongly influenced by ambient temperature, while vapor pressure deficit and photosynthetically active radiation affected stomatal conductance and energy dissipation processes. The results demonstrate that V. paradoxa possesses physiological mechanisms that enable adaptation to changing environmental conditions, including regulation of heat dissipation, chlorophyll utilization, and gas exchange. These findings improve understanding of the ecophysiological resilience of shea trees under climate change and provide insights for sustaining agroforestry parklands in the Sudano-Sahelian region.

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