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- Title
Radial distribution of carbohydrate reserves in the trunk of declining European beech trees ( Fagus sylvatica L.).
- Authors
Gérard, Bastien; Bréda, Nathalie
- Abstract
Context: European beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) is considered threatened by anticipated climate change, but the physiological causes of potential beech decline or mortality remains poorly understood. Aims: The purpose of the present study was to fuel debate about the assumption that carbohydrate depletion is involved in the decline of mature European beech. Methods: The health status of beech trees from a severely declining stand was visually assessed by examining their crown condition. Content and radial distribution of non-structural carbohydrates (starch and soluble carbohydrate) were analyzed in the trunks and compared to those reported earlier in trunks of healthy beech trees. Results and discussion: The distribution of carbohydrate in the beech trunks recorded here seemed affected by decline. We found a stronger radial decrease of starch content than those reported earlier for healthy beech trees. Carbohydrate reserves appear partially maintained in the outermost rings while starch depletion occurred in older wood rings in declining trees that may be able to mobilize carbohydrate reserves from older wood rings in response to successive climatic constraints.
- Subjects
EUROPEAN beech; EFFECT of environment on plants; CLIMATE change; TREE declines; WATER balance (Hydrology); TREE-rings
- Publication
Annals of Forest Science (BioMed Central), 2014, Vol 71, Issue 6, p675
- ISSN
1286-4560
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s13595-012-0240-1