土壤含水量对旱季降香黄檀树干呼吸和非结构性碳水化合物的影响

为研究土壤含水量对旱季树体水势、树干呼吸和边材非结构性碳水化合物(NSCs)变化特征的影响,设置重度隔水(HD)、轻度隔水(LD)、旱季灌溉(DI)和对照(CK)4个土壤含水量水平,每隔半月监测各参数的动态变化。旱季土壤含水量和枝条水势呈下降趋势,各处理从11月底开始表现出显著差异。各处理树干呼吸与树干温度均具有良好的指数函数关系(R2≥0.65,P0.001),各处理温度敏感系数Q10为DICKLDHD(P0.001)。旱季树干温度和树干呼吸均呈下降趋势,且在1月达到最低。各处理树干温度只在气温较低的冬季达差异显著,树干呼吸总体表现为旱季灌溉增加树干呼吸,而干旱降低树干呼吸。旱季淀粉含量下降,可溶性糖含量上升,非结构性碳水化合物总量总体保持不变。各处理边材淀粉和可溶性糖差异显著,而NSCs总量差异不显著。相比于DI和CK,干旱(LD和HD)加速了旱季边材淀粉分解为可溶性糖的速率。树干呼吸与淀粉、可溶性糖均具有显著回归关系,树干呼吸分别解释了淀粉72%和可溶性49%的旱季变化;枝条水势解释了49%树干呼吸、75%淀粉和85%可溶性糖的旱季变化。土壤含水量很可能通过改变树体组织含水量,进而影响边材NSCs和树干呼吸。这些变量之间紧密的联系可能为干旱可以促进降香黄檀心材形成的猜想提供一定的理论基础。另外,基于树干呼吸与树体水势和NSCs的显著关系,树干呼吸可能也会对树木心材形成有一定指示作用。     

修枝对杉木人工林树干表面和土壤CO_2释放通量的短期影响

树干表面和土壤CO2释放通量是森林生态系统碳循环的重要组成部分,但修枝措施对其如何影响还不太清楚。本文以杉木纯林为研究对象,通过修枝处理(对照、轻度修枝和重度修枝)改变光合产物供应,探讨其对树干表面CO2通量和土壤CO2通量产生的影响。在研究区内使用LI-6400-09便携式光合系统连续一个月测量树干表面和土壤CO2通量。结果表明:修枝对树干表面CO2通量并没有显著影响,尽管日最大液流略有下降。修枝轻微降低了土壤CO2通量,轻度修枝和重度修枝的土壤CO2通量相对于对照分别下降了11.8%和17.9%,但统计并不显著。因此,修枝对树干表面和土壤CO2通量的短期影响有限。     

毛白杨树干呼吸及其温度敏感性季节变化特征

树干呼吸(E_s)是森林生态系统碳循环过程的重要组成部分,深入理解树干呼吸过程对未来气候变暖的响应及反馈机制有助于更加精确地估算森林生态系统碳储量。为揭示毛白杨树干呼吸及其温度敏感性的昼夜变化和季节动态规律,利用Li-Cor6400便携式光合作用测定系统及其配套使用的土壤呼吸测量气室(LI-6400-09)对冀南平原区毛白杨的树干呼吸和树干温度实施为期1年的连续监测。结果表明:(1)在生长季,毛白杨树干呼吸与树干温度之间在晚上呈现正相关的关系(R~2=0.88);相反,两者在白天为负相关的关系(R~2=0.96)。(2)整个观测期内,毛白杨树干呼吸和树干温度均呈现"钟形"的变化曲线,树干呼吸与树干温度之间存在着较好的指数函数关系(R~2=0.93),且树干呼吸的温度敏感性系数(Q_(10))为2.62;不同季节毛白杨树干呼吸的Q_(10)存在差异,生长季的Q_(10)(1.95)明显低于非生长季(3.00),表明生长呼吸和维持呼吸对温度的响应也并不相同。(3)温度矫正后的毛白杨树干呼吸(R_(15))在昼夜和季节尺度上均存在明显的变异,即夜晚的R_(15)显著高于白天(P0.01),生长季的R_(15)明显高于非生长季(P0.05);树干可溶性糖含量与生长季的R_(15)存在较好的相关性(R~2=0.52),而非生长季的R_(15)却主要受到树干淀粉含量的影响。研究结果表明,在生长季,毛白杨树干呼吸的在日变化主要受到温度的影响,而在季节尺度上Q_(10)的变异则与树干呼吸中维持呼吸所占比例及树干中非结构性碳水化合物(可溶性糖和淀粉)的含量及类型紧密相关。     

藏香猪放牧对滇西北高原湿地土壤CO2通量的影响

高原湿地是生态系统中重要的碳汇。土壤CO_2通量作为高原湿地生态系统碳收支的重要组成部分,碳的释放对区域碳平衡发挥着重要的作用。藏香猪放牧是我国高海拔藏区一种特有的放牧方式,是导致高原湿地土壤退化的重要干扰因素之一,并影响着土壤CO_2通量的变化。采用土壤CO_2通量自动测量系统(LI-8100A,LI-COR,USA),分别在不同季节对滇西北布伦、哈木谷、伊拉草原上藏香猪干扰和对照(非干扰土壤)CO_2通量变化进行监测,研究发现,藏香猪干扰型放牧降低了土壤CO_2排放通量,且表现出明显的日波动变化特征。相比旱季,雨季不同放牧方式影响下的土壤CO_2通量差异性更为明显,其中布伦、哈木谷、伊拉草原较对照分别降低了70.4%、87.5%、60.7%。CO_2排放通量与土壤理化性状及植物生物量的回归分析表明,对照样地的土壤容重、孔隙度、pH、总活性碳、植物生物量与土壤CO_2通量具有显著的相关性(P0.01)。通过植物-土壤指数(plant-soil index,PSI)分析了藏香猪干扰型放牧对高原湿地的影响,总体来看,对照样地中土壤CO_2通量与PSI之间具有较好的线性关系,可以用来很好的预测未来高原湿地土壤CO_2通量的变化。该研究结果不仅有效估算了强干扰放牧影响下的高原湿地土壤碳排放量,而且为加强藏香猪放牧的科学管理,高原湿地生态系统的保护、恢复及重建提供了理论支持。     

去叶对水曲柳苗木根系非结构性碳水化合物分配的影响

全球气候变化有促进食叶害虫爆发的趋势.叶片被食会导致光合产物的生产降低,进一步影响非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)在树木体内的储存和分配.本研究以水曲柳2年生苗木根系为研究对象,通过40%去叶处理,于6-10月对根系取样,研究地上碳(C)供应不足条件下主根、粗根和1～5级细根NSC及其组分的分配格局.结果表明: 对照和去叶处理根系NSC浓度及其组分浓度均具有明显的季节动态;与对照相比,去叶处理苗木主根和粗根NSC浓度分别降低3.8%和30.7%,而1～5级细根NSC浓度增加1.2%～23.5%,这主要受淀粉浓度变化的影响;去叶处理苗木主根和粗根可溶性糖浓度增加7.1%和62.3%,而1～5级根可溶性糖浓度显著降低2.7%～42.8%;去叶对苗木根系可溶性糖和淀粉浓度的不同影响,导致二者的比值在主根和粗根中增加,而在1～5级细根中降低.去叶引起光合产物的生产减少,导致水曲柳苗木主根和粗根中淀粉活化后流向细根并以淀粉的形式储存,这可能有利于提高细根对冬季低温胁迫的抵抗力.     

皆伐火烧对亚热带森林不同深度土壤CO2通量的影响

评估不同深度土壤的CO_2通量是研究土壤碳动态的重要手段。目前有关皆伐火烧对森林土壤碳排放的影响研究仅局限于表层土壤,而对不同深度土壤碳排放影响鲜见报道。以米槠(Castanopsis carlesii)次生林(对照)及其皆伐火烧后林地为研究对象,利用非红外散射CO_2探头测定土壤CO_2浓度,并结合Fick第一扩散法则估算不同深度(0—80 cm)土壤CO_2通量。结果表明:(1)皆伐火烧改变土壤向大气排放的表观CO_2通量,在皆伐火烧后的2个月内土壤表观CO_2通量显著高于对照68%;2个月后,土壤表观CO_2通量低于对照37%。(2)皆伐火烧后,除10—20 cm的CO_2通量提高外,其余各深度(0—10、20—40、40—60 cm和60—80 cm)的CO_2通量均降低。同时,皆伐火烧改变不同土层对土壤呼吸的贡献率,降低0—10 cm土层的贡献率,提高10—20 cm土层的贡献率。(3)对照样地仅0—10 cm土壤CO_2通量与温度呈显著指数相关,10—40 cm深度CO_2通量则与土壤含水率呈显著线性相关。皆伐火烧后0—10 cm和10—20 cm处土壤的CO_2通量均与温度呈指数相关。说明皆伐火烧改变了不同深度土壤CO_2通量对于环境因子的响应。因此为准确评估和预测皆伐火烧对土壤与大气间碳交换的影响,应考虑皆伐火烧后不同时期土壤CO_2通量的变化,以及不同深度土壤CO_2通量对皆伐火烧的响应。     

沙地樟子松幼苗干旱致死过程中非结构性碳水化合物的变化

以2年生沙地樟子松幼苗为对象,通过持续自然干旱处理,研究当土壤含水量下降到田间持水量的60%、40%、30%、20%和15%时幼苗叶片水势及不同器官(一年生叶、当年生叶、茎、粗根和细根)的可溶性糖、淀粉和非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)的含量,分析沙地樟子松幼苗在干旱致死过程中各器官NSC的分配规律及其适应机制.结果表明: 土壤含水量从田间持水量的40%下降到15%,幼苗叶片凌晨及正午水势无显著变化.当土壤含水量从田间持水量的60%下降到30%,各器官可溶性糖、淀粉、NSC含量和可溶性糖/淀粉先下降后上升.从30%下降到20%,当年生叶、一年生叶、茎和细根可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC含量降低,而粗根可溶性糖含量增加,淀粉和NSC含量减少.从20%下降到15%,当年生叶、一年生叶和茎可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC含量降低,粗根可溶性糖和NSC含量下降,淀粉含量上升,细根可溶性糖含量减少,淀粉和NSC含量增加.沙地樟子松幼苗通过不断调整各器官NSC及其组分含量变化以适应不同干旱环境,土壤含水量下降到田间持水量的30%后,幼苗可溶性糖和NSC含量总体呈下降趋势,淀粉在粗根和细根中积累,幼苗可能因碳耗竭而死亡.     

遮光对小麦籽粒淀粉品质和花前贮存非结构碳水化合物转运的影响

以耐荫品种扬麦158和不耐荫品种扬麦11两个小麦品种为材料,研究了拔节至成熟期遮光对小麦籽粒产量、淀粉含量和淀粉糊化特性的影响,并分析了花前营养器官非结构碳水化合物转运及其与籽粒产量、淀粉含量和淀粉糊化特性的关系.结果表明：遮光条件下小麦花前营养器官中可溶性总糖转运量的下降是造成小麦籽粒产量降低的原因之一;小麦支链淀粉在遮光条件下显著降低而直链淀粉变化不明显,导致小麦籽粒总淀粉含量和支／直显著下降;遮光降低了两品种小麦籽粒淀粉峰值粘度;降低了不耐荫品种扬麦11的低谷粘度,提高了其糊化温度,但对耐荫品种扬麦158的低谷粘度和糊化温度无显著影响.     

环剥对红松(Pinus koraiensis)韧皮部和木质部碳水化合物的影响

树干环剥可以阻碍韧皮部光合产物的运输并进一步影响光合产物的分配。长时期内,环剥能够导致环痕上部可溶性糖和淀粉的积累,但对于短期内如何影响碳水化合物在木质部和韧皮部内的运输模式所知甚少。以38年生红松(Pinus koraiensis Sieb.etZucc.)为研究材料,分别对环剥上部、下部每隔1~2d采样,区分木质部和韧皮部(树皮)进行可溶性糖和淀粉含量及树干糖呼吸消耗速率测定,确定环剥后的日变化和周变化,并对木质部可溶性糖、淀粉含量与韧皮部中相应指标进行相关关系的回归分析。结果发现:(1)环剥后4周内,在环剥痕上、下部间木质部可溶性糖和淀粉含量,韧皮部中淀粉含量均不存在显著差异(p>0.05),而韧皮部内可溶性糖含量,环剥后第2周出现显著差异,从第4周出现环剥上部显著高于下部的碳水化合物积累现象(p<0.05);(2)环剥阻隔了韧皮部可溶性糖的纵向运输,但是并不影响木质部的纵向运输,而且环剥并没有影响木质部和韧皮部之间的糖和淀粉的相关关系;(3)环剥第1周内环剥上部和下部呼吸消耗速率差异不显著,第2周环剥上部显著高于环剥下部,从第3周开始环剥下部呼吸消耗速率显著下降。推断认为,在环剥处理的4周内,环剥上部冠层新形成的碳水化合物很大一部分均被呼吸消耗掉,导致环剥上部较环剥下部可溶性糖稍有增加;红松胸高直径以下部分所储藏的碳水化合物足以保障2周内红松树干呼吸。     

雪被去除减缓岷江冷杉凋落叶易分解碳释放

气候变化已经并将持续改变寒冷生物区季节性雪被厚度和覆盖时间,雪被厚度的减少可能影响高山森林凋落物分解,尤其是其早期分解过程中易分解碳的释放。该文研究了川西高山森林雪被去除处理后优势树种岷江冷杉(Abiesfargesii var.faxoniana)凋落叶总有机碳、热水/冷水可溶性有机碳、非结构性碳(可溶性糖、淀粉)在冬季(雪被形成期、覆盖期、融化期)和生长季(初期、中期、后期)的释放规律。结果表明:(1)经过一年的分解,对照和雪被去除处理的凋落叶质量残留量分别为76.4%和86.2%,总有机碳残留量分别为60.5%和74.8%。(2)经过一个冬季分解后,雪被去除处理降低了凋落叶热水溶性有机碳和可溶性糖的释放,而增加了总有机碳、可溶性有机碳、非结构性碳和淀粉的富集。(3)经过生长季分解后,雪被去除处理降低了凋落叶易分解碳释放,其中总有机碳、热水溶性有机碳、可溶性有机碳、非结构性碳、可溶性糖和淀粉的释放分别降低了36.3%、0.8%、43.7%、28.3%、21.7%和33.7%。偏最小二乘法分析表明,岷江冷杉凋落叶易分解碳释放受土壤冻融循环次数、脲酶活性、土壤温度和可溶性有机碳含量影响...     

温度增高、CO2浓度升高、施氮对蒙古栎幼苗非结构碳水化合物积累及其分配的综合影响

蒙古栎(Quercus mongolica)是中国东北地区天然次生林重要组成树种, 研究该树种幼苗有机碳积累及碳库容对未来气候变化的响应, 可为预测未来气候变暖情景下蒙古栎林的天然更新及幼苗的培育提供科学参考。该文旨在探讨CO₂浓度和温度升高综合作用对蒙古栎幼苗非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)积累及其分配的影响。实验环境条件用人工气候箱控制, 控制条件如下: 1) CO₂浓度倍增(700 μmol·mol^-1), 温度升高4 ℃处理(HCHT); 2) CO₂浓度正常(400 μmol·mol^-1), 温度升高4 ℃处理(HT); 3) CO₂浓度和温度均正常, 即对照组(CK); 每个气候箱幼苗分别在3种氮素水平下生长: N2 (15 mmol·L^-1, 高氮), N1 (7.5 mmol·L^-1, 正常供氮)和N0 (不施氮), 一共为9个处理。研究结果表明, 1) HCHT共同作用对NSC积累无促进作用, 但改变了植物各器官中NSC的分配比例, 叶片中可溶性糖和淀粉的积累明显增加, HCHT下N2水平有利于NSC的积累。2) HT明显影响了蒙古栎一年生幼苗NCS的积累和分配。在N2水平下, HT明显促进NSC的积累, 并增加了在主根中的分配比例。3)植株各器官可溶性糖含量的动态变化因处理不同而异。主根淀粉含量随时间逐渐增加, 而细根淀粉含量随时间逐渐减少。在未来气候变暖的情况下, 土壤中大量的氮供给, 可能将促进蒙古栎幼苗的生长、增加其碳库容和抵御不良环境的能力, 进而提高其天然更新潜力。     

Apoplastic Transport of 14C-Photosynthates Measured under Drought and Nitrogen Supply

Using water infiltration of the plant and individual shoots with the subsequent intercellular liquid extraction by the pressure chamber, dynamics of the movement ¹⁴C-photosynthates from cell to apoplast, and ¹⁴C distribution among photosynthetic products in mesophyll cells and apoplast were studied. The relative quantity of ¹⁴C-photosynthetes in leaf apoplast depended on growing conditions; drought increased, and nitrate supply decreased it. When the middle leaves absorbed ¹⁴CO₂, photosynthates moving down in stem phloem appeared in intercellular space, where they were transported up by transpiration stream. ¹⁴C-photosynthates entering to the apex and young leaves were utilized a accumulated, and photosynthates transported to the mature leaves were reloaded into the phloem and reexported. Thus, photosynthates circulated through the plant and were redistributed to the plant organs according to their transpiration. In leaf apoplast photosynthetic sucrose was partly hydrolyzed to glucose and fructose. This increased under high nitrogen supply. The result indicate that apoplast sucrose hydrolysis is the basic cause of the reduction of photosynthate flux from leaves when the nitrate concentration in soil increases.     

Development of gypsy moth larvae feeding on red maple saplings at elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and temperature

Predicted increases in atmospheric CO₂ and global mean temperature may alter important plant-insect associations due to the direct effects of temperature on insect development and the indirect effects of elevated temperature and CO₂ enrichment on phytochemicals important for insect success. We investigated the effects of CO₂ and temperature on the interaction between gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) larvae and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) saplings by bagging first instar larvae within open-top chambers at four CO₂/temperature treatments: (1) ambient temperature, ambient CO₂, (2) ambient temperature, elevated CO₂ (+300 l l^-1 CO₂), (3) elevated temperature (+3.5°C), ambient CO₂, and (4) elevated temperature, elevated CO₂. Larvae were reared to pupation and leaf samples taken biweekly to determine levels of total N, water, non-structural carbohydrates, and an estimate of defensive phenolic compounds in three age classes of foliage: (1) immature, (2) mid-mature and (3) mature. Elevated growth temperature marginally reduced (P <0.1) leaf N and significantly reduced (P <0.05) leaf water across CO₂ treatments in mature leaves, whereas leaves grown at elevated CO₂ concentration had a significant decrease in leaf N and a significant increase in the ratio of starch:N and total non-structural carbohydrates:N. Leaf N and water decreased and starch:N and total non-structural carbohydrates:N ratios increased as leaves aged. Phenolics were unaffected by CO₂ or temperature treatment. There were no interactive effects of CO₂ and temperature on any phytochemical measure. Gypsy moth larvae reached pupation earlier at the elevated temperature (female =8 days, P <0.07; male =7.5 days, P <0.03), whereas mortality and pupal fresh weight of insects were unrelated to either CO₂, temperature or their interaction. Our data show that CO₂ or temperature-induced alterations in leaf constituents had no effect on insect performance; instead, the long-term exposure to a 3.5°C increase in temperature shortened insect development but had no effect on pupal weight. It appears that in some tree-herbivorous insect systems the direct effects of an increased global mean temperature may have greater consequences for altering plant-insect interactions than the indirect effects of an increased temperature or CO₂ concentration on leaf constituents.     

Effect of light and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration on nitrogen fixation by herbage legumes

Summary Lucerne, red clover and white clover were grown at two atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ (300 and 1000 μl l⁻¹) and the effects on N₂ fixation, nodule mass/number and root/shoot dry matter production determined. Pea plants were similarly evaluated as a comparison with grain legumes. CO₂ enrichment increased N₂ fixation activity in all cases but activity/unit nodule mass was significantly increased only in the pea. The enhancement of N₂ fixation in herbage legumes by CO₂ enrichment reflected an increase in nodule mass which in turn was attributed to increased nodule number, and results show that under the experimental conditions obtaining here photosynthate supply did not limit nodule N₂ fixation in these plants though it was limiting in the case of peas. White clover growing in a 6 and 14 hour photoperiod was studied for response of the N₂ fixing system to light. Long photoperiod (14 hour) plants assayed at constant temperature (20°C) did not show a significant response to light at the end of the dark period either in terms of fixation per plant or per unit nodule mass, in contrast with short photoperiod (6 hour) plants which showed significant responses. Short photoperiod plants compensated for reduced photosynthates by maintaining only half the root nodule mass and fixation activity of 14 hour photoperiod plants though plants in both systems supported similar rates of N₂ fixation per unit mass of nodule during the photoperiod. Comparison of N₂ fixation activities in whole and decapitated plant systems indicates the importance of shoot reserves for sustaining nitrogenase activity in white clover during short-term interruption of photosynthesis. These results support the conclusion of the CO₂ enrichment studies, that herbage legumes have the potential for supplying their nodule photosynthate requirements for sustaining optimum rates of N₂ fixation and excess carbon supply is used solely to promote further nodulation. Nodules of short photoperiod white clover plants were less efficient in N₂ fixation in that they evolved more H₂ relative to N₂ (C₂H₂) reduced than did long photoperiod plants.     

Respiratory CO2 Fluxes in Photosynthesizing Leaves of C3 Species Varying in Rates of Starch Synthesis1

The rates of CO₂ fixation and respiratory CO₂ fluxes in six C₃ species, namely Solanum tuberosum, Nicotiana tabacum, Arabidopsis thaliana, Hordeum vulgare, Triticum aestivum, and Secale cereale, were determined under steady-state photosynthesis. The plants may be divided into two groups: (a) cereals with a low rate of starch synthesis (7–5% of true photosynthesis); (b) plants with a high rate of starch synthesis (45–35% of true photosynthesis). In the light, primary and stored photosynthates are consumed as substrates for both respiratory and photorespiratory pathways. In leaves of cereals, the total rate of respiratory and photorespiratory decarboxylations of stored photosynthates was higher in the light than in the dark, while, in starch-synthesizing species, stored photosynthates were consumed at a higher rate in the dark. Under normal environmental conditions, respiratory decarboxylation of stored photosynthates was suppressed by light in all species studied. The total rate of respiration as the sum of decarboxylation of stored and primary photosynthates was not affected by light in cereals, but suppressed in starch-accumulating plants. This suppression was not compensated for by the additional supply of respiratory substrates from primary photosynthates in the light.     

Carbon allocation in shoots of alpine treeline conifers in a CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> enriched environment

With a new approach we assessed the relative contribution of stored and current carbon compounds to new shoot growth in alpine treeline conifers. Within a free air CO₂ enrichment experiment at the alpine treeline in Switzerland, ¹³C-depleted fossil CO₂ was used to trace new carbon in the two tree species Larix decidua L. and Pinus uncinata Ramond over two subsequent years. The deciduous L. decidua was found to supply new shoot growth (structural woody part) by 46% from storage. Surprisingly, the evergreen P. uncinata, assumed to use current-year photosynthates, also utilized a considerable fraction of storage (42%) for new wood growth. In contrast, the needles of P. uncinata were built up almost completely from current-year photosynthates. The isotopic composition of different wood carbon fractions revealed a similar relative allocation of current and stored assimilates to various carbon fractions. Elevated CO₂ influenced the composition of woody tissue in a species-specific way, e.g. the water soluble fraction decreased in pine in 2001 but increased in larch in 2002 compared to ambient CO₂. Heavy defoliation applied as an additional treatment factor in the second year of the experiment decreased the lipophilic fraction in current-year wood in both species compared to undefoliated trees. We conclude that storage may play an important role for new shoot growth in these treeline conifers and that altered carbon availability (elevated CO₂, defoliation) results in significant changes in the relative amount of mobile carbon fractions in woody tissue. In particular, stored carbon seems to be of greater importance in the evergreen P. uncinata than has been previously thought.     

Efflux of carbon dioxide from snow-covered forest floors

The release of CO₂ from the snow surface in winter and the soil surface in summer was directly or indirectly measured in four cool-temperate deciduous broadleaved and evergreen needle forests. The closed chamber method (CC-method) and Fick's diffusion model (DM-method) were used for the direct and indirect measurements, respectively. The winter soil temperatures from the soil surface to 10 cm depth were between 0 and 2°C. The concentration of CO₂ within snowpack increased linearly with increasing snow depth. The average effluxes of CO₂ calculated from the gradients of CO₂ concentration in the snow using the DM-method ranged from 20 to 75 mg CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹, while the CC-method showed the average effluxes of 20 to 50 mg CO₂m⁻²h⁻¹. These results reveal that the snow thermally insulates the soil, allowing CO₂ production to continue at soil temperatures a little above freezing throughout the winter. Carbon dioxide formed in the soil can move across snowpack up to the atmosphere. The winter/summer ratio of CO₂ emission was estimated to be higher than 7%. Therefore, the snow-covered soil served as a source of CO₂ in the winter and the effluxes represent an important part of the annual CO₂ budget in snowy regions.     

Elevated CO2 concentration and temperature effects on the partitioning of chemical components along juvenile Scots pine stems (Pinus sylvestris L.)

The effects of doubled ambient [CO₂] and different temperature levels on young Pinus sylvestris growing in phytotron chambers were studied. Five chambers were supplied with ~380 (‘ambient air’) and five with ~700 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂ (‘elevated [CO₂]’). Temperature levels in the chambers ranged in increment steps of 2°C from −4°C to +4°C relative to the long-term monthly (day and night) average air temperature levels in Berlin–Dahlem. Substrate was medium fertile; soil moisture and air humidity were kept constant. After three vegetation periods twigs and stems were harvested, weighed, homogenized, and analyzed chemically. There was no significant temperature effect on wood mass accumulation, clearest positive [CO₂] effect occurred in the youngest twigs. In total, wood mass increased by 28.5% at doubled ambient [CO₂]. N-contents (percentage) decreased at elevated [CO₂] in the uppermost stem sections and not in twig wood causing wider C/N ratios in total. In response to elevated temperature, N-contents decreased slightly in twigs (~0.3%). Traces of free glucose, fructose and sucrose, which decreased from the top to the bottom, were found in stem wood, in contrast to traces of starch that increased from the top to the bottom. In response to elevated [CO₂] only a little more (0.05%) was accumulated in the top shoot and in tendency; glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents were lower at the bottom of stems as compared to the control. There was no obvious response of these non-structural carbohydrates to elevated temperature except for starch that decreased to half of the content from the lowest to the highest temperature level. Among the hemicellulose compounds, rhamnose and arabinose declined from the top shoot to the bottom of stem, whereas 4-O-methyl-d-glucuronic-acid, mannose, and xylose increased. Contents (percentage) of galactose remained approximately stable along the stem. The clearest positive effect of elevated [CO₂] along the whole stem was found for mannose with differences of 0.6–0.3%. In contrast to rhamnose and arabinose that showed a negative response to elevated [CO₂], mannose was reduced towards the uppermost stem sections. The 4-O-methyl-d-glucuronic-acid was slightly lowered at the bottom, and galactose and xylose showed no [CO₂] response. The only hemicellulose compound which reacted to temperature elevation was galactose. It increased slightly (~0.1% per 1°C). Cellulose and lignin (Klason) behaved oppositely: cellulose increased and lignin decreased from the top to the bottom. These structural components behaved reversely also in response to elevated [CO₂]. In stem parts above the bottom section, cellulose content was slightly higher at elevated [CO₂], and lignin content was slightly lower at the bottom. Lignin reacted to temperature elevation by a very slight increase on the average (~0.1% per one 1°C). Cellulose, however, decreased by ~0.2% per 1°C temperature elevation. The importance of persistent sinks of carbon in woody plant parts is discussed in respect to the greenhouse effect.     

Developmental changes of plant affecting primary photosynthate distribution in rice leaves

Developmental changes of plant in the regulation of photosynthate distribution of leaves were studied in hydroponically cultivated rice by the ¹⁴CO₂ tracer technique and analysis of the activity of the regulatory enzymes, sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), and pyruvate kinase (PK). The distribution of primary photosynthates into sugars, amino acids, organic acids, sugar phosphates, proteins, and polysaccharides was determined by column chromatography. The relative primary photosynthate distribution to the sugar phosphate fraction was significantly larger in the 5^th leaf than in the 6^th one. Correspondingly, the V_max of PEPC was significantly higher in the 5^th than in the 6^th leaf, while no significant differences between leaves were detected in the other enzymes. As a consequence, the ratio of the V_max of SPS and PEPC was lower in the 5^th than in the 6^th leaf. As the 5^th leaf develops before panicle initiation in rice, it predominantly supports vegetative growth, while the 6^th leaf develops after panicle initiation and thus contributes mainly to reproductive growth. We conclude that the physiological properties of each leaf are regulated developmentally. When the 6^th leaf became fully expanded (corresponding to the panicle initiation stage of plant), the distribution pattern of ¹⁴C was transiently changed in the 5^th leaf, indicating that individual organs that are mainly involved in vegetative development are affected to some extent by the whole-plant-level physiological transformation that occurs at the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive stage.