银杏芽中内源激素与大小年结实的关系

为探讨银杏大、小年结实现象的生理原因,于2004～2005年,用ELISA(间接酶联免疫法)对银杏大年树和小年树果芽和叶芽内的IAA,GA,ZR和ABA含量进行了对比测定。结果表明:大年树IAA、ZR和ABA含量在果芽和叶芽之间的比值均高于小年树,GA含量在果芽和叶芽之间的比值则低于小年树,有利果芽分化生长,形成大年;果芽中较高水平的ZR、IAA和ABA与较低水平的GA,以及萌芽前期较高的IAA/GA,ZR/GA和ABA/GA等比值,有利果芽分化,形成大年;叶芽中较高的ZR、IAA和较低的ABA有利于形成大年生长,尤其是ZR含量在萌芽前期或中期升高与形成大年生长关系密切。     

龙眼内源激素变化和花芽分化及大小年结果的关系

本文探讨了隔年结果的龙眼花芽和营养芽内源激素在成花过程中的作用及其与结果大小年的关系．结果表明：大年树的细胞分裂素ｉＰＡ明显地高于小年树,而ＧＡ和ＡＢＡ含量明显低于小年树,说明细胞分裂素有利于龙眼花芽分化,ＧＡ和ＡＢＡ不利于花芽分化．龙眼大年树细胞分裂素和赤霉素的比值显著高于小年树．外施ＰＰ３３３能促进花芽分化,具有缩短花序、提高着果率和增加产量的作用．     

赤霉素对水涨龙眼花芽分化的效应

赤霉素100—300ppm11月下旬处理水涨龙眼,对花芽分化有一定的影响,但大小年间的反应存在差异,小年各处理间的花穗抽生率呈现出随浓度降低而提高的趋势,低浓度(100ppm)有明显的促花效应,而大年处理的花穗抽生率无明显差异。所有处理对花穗及夏、秋梢结果母枝的生长发育均无不良影响。     

Effects of cropping, nutrition and water supply on accumulation and distribution of biomass and nutrients for apple trees on'M9'root systems

The effects of cropping, nutrition and water supply on accumulation and distribution of biomass and nutrients for apple trees on'M9'root systems were examined using trees growing in lysimeters. For 3-year-old 'Golden Delicious' trees, cropping significantly increased total biomass, although leaf and root biomass were reduced. For 3-year-old'Golden Delicious', 'Coxs Orange' and 'Gloster' trees, cropping only in the third year reduced root biomass by 39 to 45%. Cropping did not affect water use by trees of any cultivar early in the season, but increased water use later in the season for 'Gloster' trees. For trees with fruit, total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) contents at the end of the season were highest in fruit (up to 1 400 g plant ⁻¹). For trees without fruit, TNC contents were generally highest in the roots (up to 110 g planr ⁻¹). Supplying trees with nutrient solution diluted to 10% of the standard composition increased the root biomass for 'Golden Delicious' trees only, but decreased biomass of above-ground tissues for all cultivars. Reducing the nutrient supply decreased water and nutrient uptake, and reduced nutrient contents within vegetative parts of the tree more than within roots. For 'Golden Delicious' trees, restricting the water supply to 50% or 25% of that consumed by control trees significantly reduced above-ground biomass, but root biomass was not significantly affected. The N, P and K. contents for the trees were also reduced by water stress, due to reduced contents within above-ground organs. Water stress reduced the TNC and starch contents of all tissues, except the roots. These results are discussed in relation to the efficiency of root systems for water and nutrient uptake.     

The Effect of the Autumn Senescence of Leaves on the Internal Cycling of Nitrogen for the Spring Growth of Apple Trees

The internal cycling of nitrogen (N) has been studied in applerootstocks grown in sand culture and subjected to a constantN supply, or defoliation, or withholding the N supply in theautumn in order to manipulate the amount of N stored over thewinter. The trees subsequently received either no N or 8–0mol N m^–3 (labelled with ¹⁵N to 498 atom%) with the irrigationthe following spring in order to determine the effect of thecurrent N supply on the remobilization of N for leaf growth. Provision of an autumnal N supply delayed leaf senescence andreduced the amount of N withdrawn from leaves from 156 mg Nplant^–1 to 91 mg N plant^–1. Loss of protein ribulose1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RUBISCO) accounted for83–87% of the soluble protein N lost during leaf senescence,there being a preferential loss of RUBISCO compared with othersoluble leaf proteins. Remobilization of N from perennial woody tissues (stems androots) in the spring was used predominantly for leaf growth.The amount of N remobilized depended upon the size of the Nstore, but was unaffected by the current N supply, demonstratingthat fertilization of trees does not alter the efficiency withwhich they cycle N. Degradation of RUBISCO in the autumn accountedfor between 32% and 48% of the N subsequently remobilized forleaf growth the following spring, suggesting that RUBISCO hasa role as a summer store for N. Key words: Malus domestica, Borkh, nitrogen, senescence, ribulose 1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase, oxygenase, storage, remobilization     

Nutrient resorption patterns of plant functional groups in a tropical savanna: variation and functional significance

Green and senesced leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations of different plant functional groups in savanna communities of Kruger National Park, South Africa were analyzed to determine if nutrient resorption was regulated by plant nutritional status and foliar N:P ratios. The N and P concentrations in green leaves and the N concentrations in senesced leaves differed significantly between the dominant plant functional groups in these savannas: fine-leaved trees, broad-leaved trees and grasses. However, all three functional groups reduced P to comparable and very low levels in senesced leaves, suggesting that P was tightly conserved in this tropical semi-arid savanna ecosystem. Across all functional groups, there was evidence for nutritional control of resorption in this system, with both N and P resorption efficiencies decreasing as green leaf nutrient concentrations increased. However, specific patterns of resorption and the functional relationships between nutrient concentrations in green and senesced leaves varied by nutrient and plant functional group. Functional relationships between N concentrations in green and senesced leaves were indistinguishable between the dominant groups, suggesting that variation in N resorption efficiency was largely the result of inter-life form differences in green leaf N concentrations. In contrast, observed differences in P resorption efficiencies between life forms appear to be the result of both differences in green leaf P concentrations as well as inherent differences between life forms in the fraction of green leaf P resorbed from senescing leaves. Our results indicate that foliar N:P ratios are poor predictors of resorption efficiency in this ecosystem, in contrast to N and P resorption proficiencies, which are more responsive to foliar N:P ratios.     

天童常绿阔叶林若干树种的叶片营养转移研究

对天童国家森林公园 1 8种植物在落叶前后营养转移量的研究表明 ,不同植物的营养转移率不尽相同 ,N的平均转移率为 3 7.86% ,标准偏差 1 0 .67% ;P的平均转移率为 44.76% ,标准偏差 1 5 .40 %。经方差分析 ,N、P转移率无明显差异 (s=0 .1 3 8)。同时 ,P的转移率与植物成熟叶中的P含量及N/P存在正相关 ,而N的转移率与植物成熟叶子的N含量和N/P不相关。另外 ,常绿植物的N转移率平均值是 3 5 .74% (标准差9.46% ) ,落叶植物N转移率平均值是 3 8.72 % (标准差 1 2 .65 % ) ;常绿植物的P转移率平均值是 3 7.72 % (标准差 1 3 .0 0 % ) ,落叶植物P转移率平均值是 5 5 .3 7% (标准差 1 5 .5 4% )。对落叶和常绿阔叶二种生活型植物进行ANOVA分析 ,表明N转移率无明显差异 ,而P转移率有差异 (P <0 .0 5 )。     

Organic nitrogen reserves and their mobilization during sprouting of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) tubers

Purple nutsedge is a perennial weed propagating vegetativelyby an extended network of rhizomes and tubers. Large quantitiesof starch are stored in the tubers, but the properties of nitrogenreserves and their importance for early plant growth have receivedlittle attention in the past. Organic nitrogen compounds werestudied in mature tubers by protein determination, SDS-PAGEand amino acid quantification and separation using reversed-phaseHPLC. Changes in these compounds were followed in sproutingtuber pieces fed with a complete nutrient solution (containingnitrate, control) or with a nutrient solution without nitrogensource. As judged by gel electrophoresis or direct protein quantification,some net protein degradation occurred after 2–4 weeksof sprouting in the presence or absence of exogenous N. Aminoacids decreased much faster, especially during the first 2 weeks.The major amino acids were arginine and asparagine, which togetheraccounted for 70% of total amino acids at day 0, and which hadalmost disappeared after 4 weeks of sprouting. Sprout growthdepended strongly on the availability of exogenous nitrogenduring the second week. The results indicate that amino acidsare the main N storage form of purple nutsedge tubers and, essentially,that no storage proteins are present. Future investigationson the N metabolism of sprouting nutsedge should focus on arginineand asparagine metabolism and eventually on nitrogen assimilation,which becomes important in an early phase of plant growth. Key words: Cyperus rotundus L., arginine, asparagine, nitrogen assimilation, storage proteins     

Root Starch Reserves Are Necessary for Vigorous Re-Growth following Cutting Back in Lotus japonicus

Perenniality and vegetative re-growth vigour represent key agronomic traits in forage legume (Fabaceae) species. The known determinants of perenniality include the conservation of the vegetative meristem during and after the flowering phase, and the separation of flowering from senescence. The ability of the plants to store nutrient resources in perennial organs and remobilize them may also play an important role in the perennial growth habit, and in determining the capacity of the plant to re-grow following grazing or from one season to the next. To examine the importance of stored starch, we examined the vegetative re-growth vigour following cutting back of a unique collection of Lotus japonicus mutants impaired in their ability to synthesize or degrade starch. Our results establish that starch stored in the roots is important for re-growth vigour in Lotus japonicus. We extended this analysis to a collection of Lotus (trefoil) species and two ecotypes of Lotus japonicus displaying a large variation in their carbohydrate resource allocation. There was a positive correlation between root starch content and re-growth vigour in these natural variants, and a good general correlation between high re-growth vigour and the perennial life-form. We discuss the relationship between perenniality and the availability of root carbohydrates for re-growth.     

What are Backshoots Good For? Seasonal Changes in Mineral, Carbohydrate and Water Content of Different Organs of the Epiphytic Orchid, Dimerandra emarginata

The epiphytic orchid, Dimerandra emarginata (G. Meyer) Hoehne,keeps older stems (‘ backshoots’) after the attachedfoliage dies. I investigated seasonal changes in the water,carbohydrate and nutrient content of these leafless stems alongwith associated, connected organs for 1 year. Older stems significantlyincrease the water storage capacity of a plant, allowing itto tolerate long periods of drought. Reduction in total non-structuralcarbohydrates (TNC) at the beginning of the growing season indicatedan important role of carbon stored in older stems for the re-initiationof vegetative growth after the dry season, while the lack ofan increase in TNC before fruiting suggests no such role forreproduction. While seasonal fluctuations in water contentsand TNC were pronounced, concentrations of nutrients (N, P,K) showed only small seasonal variation in all vegetative organs.Allocation of carbon and nutrients to developing fruits wasrather high, exceeding, e.g. 20% of the total plant pool ofpotassium. This large investment in fruits was derived fromall vegetative organs. I conclude that persistent stems servea crucial function in the water, carbon and nutrient relationsof epiphytes such as D. emarginata, which live in habitats whereaccess to water and key nutrients is often severely limited.Copyright 1999 Annals of Botany Company Barro Colorado Island, Dimerandra emarginata, epiphytes, mineral nutrients, orchids, reproduction, resource allocation, total non-structural carbohydrates.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus economy of the riparian shrub <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salix gracilistyla</Emphasis> in western Japan

Salix gracilistyla is one of the dominant plants in the riparian vegetation of the upper-middle reaches of rivers in western Japan. This species colonizes mainly sandy habitats, where soil nutrient levels are low, but shows high potential for production. We hypothesized that S.␣gracilistyla uses nutrients conservatively within stands, showing a high resorption efficiency during leaf senescence. To test this hypothesis, we examined seasonal changes in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in aboveground organs of S. gracilistyla stands on a fluvial bar in the Ohtagawa River, western Japan. The concentrations in leaves decreased from April to May as leaves expanded. Thereafter, the concentrations showed little fluctuation until September. They declined considerably in autumn, possibly owing to nutrient resorption. We converted the nutrient concentrations in each organ to nutrient amounts per stand area on the basis of the biomass of each organ. The resorption efficiency of N and P in leaves during senescence were estimated to be 44 and 46%, respectively. Annual net increments of N and P in aboveground organs, calculated by adding the amounts in inflorescences and leaf litter to the annual increments in perennial organs, were estimated to be 9.9 g and 0.83 g m⁻² year⁻¹, respectively. The amounts released in leaf litter were 6.7 g N and 0.44 g P m⁻². These values are comparable to or larger than those of other deciduous trees. We conclude that S. gracilistyla stands acquire large amounts of nutrients and release a large proportion in leaf litter.     

Autumnal N storage determines the spring growth,N uptake and N internal cycling of young peach trees

Although N storage determines early spring growth in trees, the usefulness of autumn N supply remains unclear as N uptake decreases in autumn, but could be restored earlier in spring to compensate for low N cycling. We intended here to evaluate the effects of autumn N supply on N uptake, storage and cycling, and spring growth. Four levels of N fertilisation were applied to 1-year-old peach trees, between the end of shoot growth and leaf fall. In spring, N supply was ¹⁵N labelled. Organ dry weights and concentrations of ¹⁴N, ¹⁵N, starch and soluble sugars were evaluated after the first growth flush. Bud development had previously been described in the same trees by Jordan et al. (Trees-Struct Func 23:235–245, 2009). Fertilisation promoted autumn N uptake, spring N uptake and growth up to a threshold level, since no differences were evidenced between the three highest N treatments. The variability in tree ¹⁴N contents was related to the number of phytomers per tree in autumn, i.e. to tree size. In spring, the depletion of the perennial structures was independent of treatment, indicating a complete mobilisation of the N stores. Spring growth was related to the amounts of cycling N, and spring N uptake was in turn proportioned to shoot and fruit growth. The lower N uptake of the N limited trees was not due to a C shortage since these trees displayed the highest starch concentrations. We conclude that a moderate autumn fertilisation improved spring growth and fruit production (Jordan et al. in Trees-Struct Func 23:235–245, 2009) and that a deficit of N storage could not be compensated for by an increase in spring N uptake.     

Dependence of starch storage on nutrient availability and photon flux density in small birch Betula pendula Roth)

Abstract Small birch plants (Betula pendula Roth) were grown in a climate chamber at different levels of nutrient availability and at two photon flux densities. The extent to which starch storage was dependent upon nutrient availability and photon flux density was investigated. Acclimated values of starch concentration in leaves were highest at low nutrient availability and high photon flux density. Starch storage in roots was only found at the lowest nutrient availability. However, the relative rate of starch storage (starch stored per unit plant dry weight and time) was higher in plants with good nutrition. The data suggest that, at sub-optimal nutrient availability, the momentary rate of net shoot photosynthesis is unlikely to limit the structural (as opposed to carbon storage) growth of the plant. Although photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area (as measured at the growth climate) was slightly lower in plants with poor nutrient availability, photosynthetic rate per unit leaf nitrogen was higher. These data suggest a priority of leaf nitrogen usage in photosynthesis, with limiting amounts of leaf nitrogen (and possibly other nutrients) for subsequent growth processes. This argument is consistent with the higher concentrations of starch found in plants with poor nutrient availability.     

Nitrogen and carbon storage in alpine plants

Alpine plants offer unique opportunities to study the processesand economics of nutrient storage. The short alpine growingseason forces rapid completion of plant growth cycles, whichin turn causes competition between vegetative and reproductivegrowth sinks during the early part of the growing season. Mobilizationof stored nitrogen and carbon reserves facilitates competingsinks and permits successful completion of reproduction beforethe onset of winter stress. We discuss the theoretical frameworkfor assessing the costs and benefits of nutrient storage inalpine plants in order to lay the foundation for interpretationof observations. A principal point that has emerged from pasttheoretical treatments is the distinction between reserve storage,defined as storage that occurs with a cost to growth, and resourceaccumulation, defined as storage that occurs when resource supplyexceeds demand, and thus when there is no cost to growth. Wethen discuss two case studies, one already published and onenot yet published, pertaining to the storage and utilizationof nitrogen and carbon compounds in alpine plants from NiwotRidge, Colorado. In the first case, we tested the hypothesisthat the seasonal accumulation of amino acids in the rhizomeof N-fertilized plants of Bistorta bistortoides provides anadvantage to the plant by not imposing a cost to growth at thetime of accumulation, but providing a benefit to growth whenthe accumulated N is remobilized. We show that, as predicted,there is no cost during N accumulation but, not as predicted,there is no benefit to future growth. In the presence of N accumulation,reliance on stored N for growth increases, but reliance on current-season,soil-derived N decreases; thus the utilization of availableN in this species is a ‘zero sum’ process. Inherentmeristematic constraints to growth cause negative feedback thatlimits the utilization of accumulated N and precludes long-termadvantages to this form of storage. In the second case study,we discuss new results showing high concentrations of cyclicpolyol (cyclitol) compounds in the leaves of many alpine speciesdominant in the dry fellfield habitat. In Artemisia scopulorum,cyclitols were induced as the growing season progressed, andreached highest concentrations during the dry, late-summer months.Leaf cyclitol concentrations were high in all four species ofthe Caryophyllaceae that we examined and appeared to be constitutivecomponents of the leaf carbohydrate pool as concentrations werehigh through the entire growing season. We observed correlationsamong seedling abundance, seeding survivorship and the presenceof high leaf cyclitol concentrations. We propose that the primaryfunction of cyclitols in the leaves of alpine, fellfield herbsis to promote drought tolerance through osmotic protection,and enhance fitness by improving seedling survival. We consideredthe possibility that cyclitols also function as carbon storagecompounds that are remobilized at the end of the growing seasonand used to support growth the following year. Our observationsdo not support this hypothesis in the Caryophyllaceae becausethe requirement for high constitutive concentrations year-after-yearprevents long-term advantages of storage and remobilization.However, in A. scopulorum, remobilization of cyclitols followingthe end of the growing season may provide storage substratesthat can be used for growth the following season. From our analysiswe conclude that it is difficult to use current theory thatis embedded in the economic concept of costs and benefits tointerpret observed dynamics in nitrogen and carbon allocation.Future theoretical developments that move away from an abstractfoundation embedded in cost-benefit tradeoffs and toward phenotypicintegration of source-sink relationships will improve our abilityto merge observations and theory.     

Mineral Content of Plantations of Pinus sylvestris L.

Data are given of the percentage composition and total contentsof Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, and N in trees forming an age series ofplantations of Pinus sylvestris. From these data, calculationsare made of the total nutrient uptake by the trees, both annuallyand for the whole rotation, the removal of nutrients in thecrop, the immobilization of nutrients within the trees, andthe return of nutrients to the soil by litter fall and unharvestedmaterial from selective thinning and cropping. Comparisons aremade of the nutrient uptake by the trees and typical agriculturalcrops, and the results are considered in terms of the maintenanceof soil fertility.     

Patterns of nitrogen conservation in shrubs and grasses in the Patagonian Monte,Argentina

We analysed the main plant strategies to conserve nitrogen in the Patagonian Monte. We hypothesized that the two main plant functional groups (xerophytic evergreen shrubs and mesophytic perennial grasses) display different mechanisms of nitrogen conservation related to their structural and functional characteristics. Evergreen shrubs are deep-rooted species, which develop vegetative and reproductive growth from spring to late summer coupled with high temperatures, independently from water inputs. In contrast, perennial grasses are shallow-rooted species with high leaf turnover, which display vegetative growth from autumn to spring and reproductive activity from mid-spring to early-summer, coupled with precipitation inputs. We selected three evergreen shrubs (Larrea divaricata Cav., Atriplex lampa Gill. ex Moq. and Junellia seriphioides (Gilles and Hook.) Moldenke) and three perennial grasses (Stipa tenuis Phil., S. speciosa Trin. and Rupr. and Poa ligularis Nees ex Steud.), characteristic of undisturbed and disturbed areas of the Patagonian Monte. N concentration in expanded green and senesced leaves was estimated in December 1997 (late spring) and June 1998 (late autumn). Deep-rooted evergreen shrubs displayed small differences in N concentration between green and senesced leaves (low N-resorption efficiency), having high N concentration in senesced leaves (low N-resorption proficiency). Shallow-rooted perennial grasses, conversely, showed high N-resorption efficiency and high N-resorption proficiency (large differences in N concentration between green and senesced leaves and very low N concentration in senesced leaves, respectively). The lack of a strong mechanism of N resorption in evergreen shrubs apparently does not agree with their ability to colonize N-poor soils. These results, however, may be explained by lower N requirements in evergreen shrubs resulting from lower growth rates, lower N concentrations in green leaves, and lower leaf turnover as compared with perennial grasses. Long-lasting N-poor green tissues may, therefore, be considered an efficient mechanism to conserve N in evergreen shrubs in contrast with the mechanism of strong N resorption from transient N-rich tissues displayed by perennial grasses. Evergreen shrubs with low N-resorption efficiency provide a more N-rich substrate, with probably higher capability of N mineralization than that of perennial grasses, which may eventually enhance N fertility and N availability in N-poor soils.     

Drought-deciduous behavior reduces nutrient losses from temperate deciduous trees under severe drought

Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves is an important mechanism of nutrient conservation in temperate deciduous forests. Resorption, however, may be curtailed by climatic events that cause rapid leaf death, such as severe drought, which has been projected to double by the year 2100 in the eastern United States. During a record drought in the southeastern US, we studied 18 common temperate winter-deciduous trees and shrubs to understand how extreme drought affects nutrient resorption of the macronutrients N, P, K, and Ca. Four species exhibited drought-induced leaf senescence and maintained higher leaf water potentials than the remaining 14 species (here called drought-evergreen species). This strategy prevented extensive leaf desiccation during the drought and successfully averted large nutrient losses caused by leaf desiccation. These four drought-deciduous species were also able to resorb N, P, and K from drought-senesced leaves, whereas drought-evergreen species did not resorb any nutrients from leaves lost to desiccation during the drought. For Oxydendrum arboreum, the species most severely affected by the drought, our results indicate that trees lost 50% more N and P due to desiccation than would have been lost from fall senescence alone. For all drought-deciduous species, resorption of N and P in fall-senesced leaves was highly proficient, whereas resorption was incomplete for drought-evergreen species. The lower seasonal nutrient losses of drought-deciduous species may give them a competitive advantage over drought-evergreen species in the years following the drought, thereby impacting species composition in temperate deciduous forests in the future.     

闽楠林土壤-凋落物-叶片碳氮磷生态化学计量对人为干扰的响应

干扰是影响森林生态系统稳定性和功能的重要因子,干扰程度直接影响天然林的生长进而影响其生态系统能量流动和养分循环过程,为此开展干扰对天然林生态系统影响研究,对于揭示干扰对天然林生态系统养分平衡特征机制具有重要意义。以福建两种人为干扰模式下(重度干扰和轻度干扰)闽楠林为研究对象,通过分析“土壤-凋落物-叶片”三个组分化学计量特征,结合养分利用效率、养分再吸收效率、内稳态理论解析干扰对闽楠林养分资源利用策略和生态适应。结果表明：(1)两种干扰模式下,叶片C、N、P含量均显著高于其土壤和凋落物,且三个组分中N和P含量均表现出重度干扰显著高于轻度干扰,但三个组分C/N、C/P和N/P呈现轻度干扰显著高于其重度干扰。(2)闽楠林叶片N、P养分利用效率表现出：重度干扰<轻度干扰,但P再吸收效率则是重度干扰高于轻度干扰,且两种干扰模式下P养分利用效率和再吸收效率显著高于N。(3)随干扰强度的增加,闽楠林叶片N呈现内稳态弱,而叶片P的内稳态强以适应低P环境。(4)凋落物与叶片两组分P、C/P、N/P存在显著正相关关系,土壤C/N分别与叶片P、C/P、N/P以及凋落物P、C/N和C/P存在显著相关关...     

Alternate bearing influences annual nutrient consumption and the total nutrient content of mature pistachio trees

The influence of alternate bearing on nutrient utilization and total tree nutrient content was investigated in mature pistachio (Pistacia vera L. cv Kerman trees). Removal of N, P and Zn in fruit and abscised leaves of cropping (‘on’) trees averaged 5, 6, and 2 times, respectively, the removal in abscised leaflets of the non-fruiting, ‘off’ year trees. One hundred and thirty-five kg N, 131 kg K, 86 kg Ca, 39 kg Mg and 18 kg P per hectare were removed in fruits and abscised leaves in ‘on’ year trees. Tree nutrient contents and, presumably, the size of nutrient storage pools in dormant trees varied between ‘on’ and ‘off’ years. There was 22% and 14% more N and P, respectively, in dormant trees following ‘off’ than ‘on’ years. The greater N and P accumulation in ‘off’ year trees is depleted in support of the large fruit demand for N and P during ‘on’ years. In contrast to N and P, there was greater K and Ca accumulation in perennial tree parts during ‘on’ years than during ‘off’ years. The greater K accumulation in perennial tree parts and approximately 30% greater removal of K in annual organs during ‘on’ than ‘off’ years suggests that K uptake could be 4 times higher in ‘on’ year trees than in (non-cropping), ‘off’ year trees.     

Seasonal Changes of Bioelements in the Litter and their Potential Return to Green Leaves in four Species of the Argentine Subtropical Forest

The aim of this work was to analyse the nutrient concentrationsof N, P, Ca, Mg, K and Na in mature leaves, branches and fruitsand to investigate relationships between the contents of thesebioelements in senescent and fresh leaves in four forest species:Gleditsia amorphoides ( Espina Corona), Patagonula americana(Guayaibí),Chlorophora tinctoria ( Mora) and Astroniumbalansae (Urunday). The study site was located in the ColoniaBenítez Estricta Nature Research (Chaco, Argentina).In this subtropical forest, total litter was collected monthlyand was sorted into three groups: (1) leaves; (2) branches andfruit; (3) unidentified. Total dry matter was recorded and analysedfor N, P, Ca, Mg, K and Na. Espina Corona had the highest leafconcentrations of N, while Mora had the highest concentrationsof Ca and Mg. The highest leaf concentrations of P were foundin Espina Corona, Mora and Urunday. No significant differencesin K were found among the different species. Na concentrationswere higher in Espina Corona and Guayaibí than Mora andUrunday. A marked seasonal variability was observed in the concentrationsof N, P and K, with no important differences for Ca and Mg,except in Espina Corona. These variations in nutrient concentrationswere greater in leaves than in branches and fruits. N and Pwere translocated to other tree organs and Ca, Mg and Na wereaccumulated in mature leaves. The bioelement K is the only onethat undergoes leaching and mobilization in all species. ResorbedN and P can be used for the production of new leaf organs inthe following annual cycle. This resorption supports a portionof the production of new foliage, diminishing the demand fromsoil.Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Above-ground production, potential return, nutrient resorption, leaf analysis, tropical forest, Gleditsia amorphoides, Patagonula americana, Chlorophora tinctoria, Astronium balansae, Espina Corona, Guayaibí, Mora, Urunday.