Intra-annual dynamics of non-structural carbohydrates in the cambium of mature conifer trees reflects radial growth demands

Simard, Sonia; Giovannelli, Alessio; Treydte, Kerstin; Traversi, Maria Laura; King, Gregory M.; Frank, David; Fonti, Patrick (2013). Intra-annual dynamics of non-structural carbohydrates in the cambium of mature conifer trees reflects radial growth demands. Tree Physiology, 33(9), pp. 913-923. Oxford University Press 10.1093/treephys/tpt075

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The presence of soluble carbohydrates in the cambial zone, either from sugars recently produced during photosynthesis or from starch remobilized from storage organs, is necessary for radial tree growth. However, considerable uncertainties on carbohydrate dynamics and the consequences on tree productivity exist. This study aims to better understand the variation in different carbon pools at intra-annual resolution by quantifying how cambial zone sugar and starch concentrations fluctuate over the season and in relation to cambial phenology. A comparison between two physiologically different species growing at the same site, i.e., the evergreen Picea abies Karst. and the deciduous Larix decidua Mill., and between L. decidua from two contrasting elevations, is presented to identify mechanisms of growth limitation. Results indicate that the annual cycle of sugar concentration within the cambial zone is coupled to the process of wood formation. The highest sugar concentration is observed when the number of cells in secondary wall formation and lignification stages is at a maximum, subsequent to most radial growth. Starch disappears in winter, while other freeze-resistant non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) increase. Slight differences in NSC concentration between species are consistent with the differing climate sensitivity of the evergreen and deciduous species investigated. The general absence of differences between elevations suggests that the cambial activity of trees growing at the treeline was not limited by the availability of carbohydrates at the cambial zone but instead by environmental controls on the growing season duration.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

10 Strategic Research Centers > Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR)
08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography > Physical Geography

UniBE Contributor:

Frank, David

Subjects:

900 History > 910 Geography & travel

ISSN:

0829-318X

Publisher:

Oxford University Press

Language:

English

Submitter:

Monika Wälti-Stampfli

Date Deposited:

11 Aug 2014 16:23

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:32

Publisher DOI:

10.1093/treephys/tpt075

Uncontrolled Keywords:

cambium, intra-annual analysis, Larix decidua, non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), Picea abies, phenology, tree-ring

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/49639

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