Abstract
Resprouting woody species adapted to perturbations store large amounts of carbon reserves to sustain plant metabolism during and resprout following perturbations. However, it is not known how carbon sources and sinks re-adjust in response to perturbations. Here, we studied when and where different reserve pools were mobilized after an aboveground perturbation, and how were new assimilates used after resprouting. Leaf gas exchange, plant organ carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) and nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations [NSC] were measured over one year in Pinus canariensis saplings subjected to complete defoliation (D) or complete defoliation plus stem damage (DD). Growth stopped completely in D and DD trees by the second month after the treatment application and during subsequent crown development. Growth resumed in most trees (60%) by the end of the growing season. Relative to control (C) trees, stem xylem [starch] decreased in D and DD during resprouting of new buds. Stem and root [starch] were also lower during growth resumption in these trees. One year after aboveground damages, leaf and root δ13C were significantly lower in D and DD, whereas [starch] recovered to values of C trees, except in roots of DD trees. Mobilization of carbon reserves from woody organs allows for resprouting and contributes to crown regeneration, stem growth resumption and wound healing in DD trees. New 13C-depleted photoassimilates contribute to these processes, and to refilling carbohydrates reserves. High [starch], plasticity in growth during and recovery of [starch] after severe aboveground disturbance, highlights high resilience of P. canariensis to perturbation.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Eva Miranda, Victor Chano, Guillermo González, Aida Rodríguez and Roberto Salomón for the support in the treatment application and sample collection and Rosana López for the useful discussions. This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Culture (Grant number AP-2012-1782); the Spanish National Parks Agency, Ministry of Agriculture (Grant number SPIP2014-01093); and the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Union—Trees4Future (Grant number 284181).
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JCM, PP, JRC and LG conceived the ideas and designed methodology; JCM and PP sampled the material; JCM, MS and JO carried out laboratory analysis; JCM analyzed the data; JCM and JRC led the writing of the manuscript. All authors contributed critically to the drafts and gave final approval for publication.
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Mean values of soluble sugars, starch and δ13C pooled by organ, sampling time, treatment or needle age. (PDF 506 kb)
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Wound surface area covered with resin in a defoliated plus damaged tree at sampling time 5 (following growing season). (PDF 315 kb)
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Miranda, J.C., Rodríguez-Calcerrada, J., Pita, P. et al. Carbohydrate dynamics in a resprouting species after severe aboveground perturbations. Eur J Forest Res 139, 841–852 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-020-01288-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-020-01288-2