Forest trees filter chronic wind‐signals to acclimate to high winds

Bonnesoeur, Vivien; Constant, Thiéry; Moulia, Bruno; Fournier, Mériem

doi:10.1111/nph.13836

Cited by 70 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 71 publications

(102 reference statements)

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“…PtaZFP2 , and a XTH, respectively— responded with lower intensity to a second stem bending, applied 24 h after a first one. This phenomenon is now referred to as ‘accommodation’ and is thought to be crucial to avoid over-response to wind [6, 22]. In trees, transcriptomic analysis of transgenic poplars overexpressing PtaZFP2 constituted a first step toward the characterization of this phenomenon at molecular level.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poplar stem transcriptome is massively remodelled in response to single or repeated mechanical stimuli

et al. 2017

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BackgroundTrees experience mechanical stimuli -like wind- that trigger thigmomorphogenetic syndrome, leading to modifications of plant growth and wood quality. This syndrome affects tree productivity but is also believed to improve tree acclimation to chronic wind. Wind is particularly challenging for trees, because of their stature and perenniality. Climate change forecasts are predicting that the occurrence of high wind will worsen, making it increasingly vital to understand the mechanisms regulating thigmomorphogenesis, especially in perennial plants. By extension, this also implies factoring in the recurring nature of wind episodes. However, data on the molecular processes underpinning mechanoperception and transduction of mechanical signals, and their dynamics, are still dramatically lacking in trees.ResultsHere we performed a genome-wide and time-series analysis of poplar transcriptional responsiveness to transitory and recurring controlled stem bending, mimicking wind. The study revealed that 6% of the poplar genome is differentially expressed after a single transient bending. The combination of clustering, Gene Ontology categorization and time-series expression approaches revealed the diversity of gene expression patterns and biological processes affected by stem bending. Short-term transcriptomic responses entailed a rapid stimulation of plant defence and abiotic stress signalling pathways, including ethylene and jasmonic acid signalling but also photosynthesis process regulation. Late transcriptomic responses affected genes involved in cell wall organization and/or wood development. An analysis of the molecular impact of recurring bending found that the vast majority (96%) of the genes differentially expressed after a first bending presented reduced or even net-zero amplitude regulation after the second exposure to bending.ConclusionThis study constitutes the first dynamic characterization of the molecular processes affected by single or repeated stem bending in poplar. Moreover, the global attenuation of the transcriptional responses, observed from as early as after a second bending, indicates the existence of a mechanism governing a fine tuning of plant responsiveness. This points toward several mechanistic pathways that can now be targeted to elucidate the complex dynamics of wind acclimation.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3670-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poplar stem transcriptome is massively remodelled in response to single or repeated mechanical stimuli

et al. 2017

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“…This seems intuitive, since taller trees are exposed to higher wind speeds. However, trees are known to adapt to their local wind environment through increased radial growth (Bonnesoeur et al, 2016; Telewski, 1995). Therefore, it seemed possible a priori that these adaptations could counterbalance the increased wind loading.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The mechanical stability of the world’s tallest broadleaf trees

Jackson

Shenkin

Majalap

et al. 2019

Preprint

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13The factors that limit the maximum height of trees, whether ecophysiological or mechanical, are the 14 subject of longstanding debate. Here we examine the role of mechanical stability in limiting tree 15 height and focus on trees from the tallest tropical forests on Earth, in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, 16including the recently discovered tallest tropical tree, a 100.8 m Shorea faguetiana. We use 17 terrestrial laser scans, in situ strain gauge data and finite-element simulations to map the 18 architecture of tall broadleaf trees and monitor their response to wind loading. We demonstrate 19 that a tree's risk of breaking due to gravity or self-weight decreases with tree height and is much 20 more strongly affected by tree architecture than by material properties. In contrast, wind damage 21 risk increases with tree height despite the larger diameters of tall trees, resulting in a U-shaped 22 curve of mechanical risk with tree height. The relative rarity of extreme wind speeds in north Borneo 23 may be the reason it is home to the tallest trees in the tropics. 24

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“…The distance between the upper tree limit and the nearest peak increases towards the east, indicating that western tree limits in Central Europe are more prone to being affected by the summit syndrome (sensu Körner, ). In general, stem tapering is a result of limited height growth accompanied by more or less unchanged radial growth (Bonnesoeur, Constant, Moulia, & Fournier, ). At the investigated treelines, TRW correlated well with treeline temperature, whereas the relationship between height growth of stems above 2.0 m and temperature was weak.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The causes of upper tree limits in the mountain ranges of Central Europe north of the Alps – A stem growth perspective

Kašpar

Treml

2018

J Vegetation Science

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Questions Globally, mean growing season temperature at the climatic treeline was found to converge to a common isotherm, presumably related to similar growth limitations by low temperature. However, temperatures for high‐elevation tree limits are often higher than the corresponding thermal limit for tree growth, suggesting that trees are regionally absent from the potential treeline. We explore whether the regional uppermost tree stands in Central Europe are limited by low growing season temperature, reflect the action of a “summit syndrome” (harsh climatic conditions near summits of insufficiently high mountains), or have resulted from historical land use or other disturbances. Location Mountains of Central Europe, north and east of the Alps (48–51°N, 10–20°E). Methods In each region, the highest elevation, 3‐m tall individuals of Picea abies were sampled to measure radial and height growth and to record symptoms of wind‐induced damage (abrasion, bending, breakage). Trees were grouped based on their growth performance and growing season temperature. Differences in variables indicative of a summit syndrome (wind‐induced damage, elevation distance to nearest summit, height increment above 2 m stem height) were tested among groups. Results We identified four particular groups of trees. The first contains trees characterized by low growth rates at cold tree limits located distant from summit areas. These trees are considered to represent the climatic treeline. The second group consists of trees growing well at relatively “warm” tree limits located near summits. These upper tree limits are probably a consequence of disturbances, human interventions or tree establishment lagging behind the warming over the past century. Trees from the remaining two groups are characterized by intermediate temperatures and growth rates. They are usually located near summits and exhibit various ranges of symptoms of mechanical impact due to summit conditions. Their current range limits reflect a combination of the repeated loss of biomass, thermally‐limited growth and restricted space for further upslope advance. Conclusions Our study shows that comparing tree growth, growing season temperature and symptoms of biomass loss is helpful for explaining the formation of regional upper tree limits.

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Forest trees filter chronic wind‐signals to acclimate to high winds

Cited by 70 publications

References 71 publications

Poplar stem transcriptome is massively remodelled in response to single or repeated mechanical stimuli

Poplar stem transcriptome is massively remodelled in response to single or repeated mechanical stimuli

The mechanical stability of the world’s tallest broadleaf trees

The causes of upper tree limits in the mountain ranges of Central Europe north of the Alps – A stem growth perspective

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