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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2020

No carbon limitation after lower crown loss in Pinus radiata

Gomez-Gallego, Mireia; Williams, Nari; Leuzinger, Sebastian; Scott, Peter Matthew; Bader, Martin Karl-Friedrich

Abstract

Background and Aims Biotic and abiotic stressors can cause different defoliation patterns within trees. Foliar pathogens of conifers commonly prefer older needles and infection with defoliation that progresses from the bottom crown to the top. The functional role of the lower crown of trees is a key question to address the impact of defoliation caused by foliar pathogens.Methods A 2 year artificial defoliation experiment was performed using two genotypes of grafted Pinus radiata to investigate the effects of lower-crown defoliation on carbon (C) assimilation and allocation. Grafts received one of the following treatments in consecutive years: control-control, control-defoliated, defoliated-control and defoliated-defoliated.Results No upregulation of photosynthesis either biochemically or through stomatal control was observed in response to defoliation. The root:shoot ratio and leaf mass were not affected by any treatment, suggesting prioritization of crown regrowth following defoliation. In genotype B. defoliation appeared to impose C shortage and caused reduced above-ground growth and sugar storage in roots, while in genotype A, neither growth nor storage was altered. Root C storage in genotype B decreased only transiently and recovered over the second growing season.Conclusions In genotype A. the contribution of the lower crown to the whole-tree C uptake appears to be negligible, presumably conferring resilience to foliar pathogens affecting the lower crown. Our results suggest that there is no C limitation after lower-crown defoliation in P. radiata grafts. Further, our findings imply genotype-specific defoliation tolerance in P. radiata.

Keywords

A/C-i curves; defoliation; biomass; growth; leaf area; non-structural carbohydrates; photosynthesis; Pinus radiata; root:shoot; foliar pathogens

Published in

Annals of Botany
2020, Volume: 125, number: 6, pages: 955-967
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS

    Associated SLU-program

    SLU Plant Protection Network

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Botany
    Forest Science

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaa013

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/107220