The Existence of Bark and Stem Photosynthesis in Woody Plants and Its Significance for the Overall Carbon Gain. An Eco-Physiological and Ecological Approach

Pfanz, Hardy; Aschan, Guido

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-56849-7_19

Cited by 88 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…However, we can not exclude that this is due to different respiratory characteristics in C. rosea. CO 2 gas exchange between stems and the atmosphere has been well described in the case of several trees and shrubs (Pfanz and Aschan 2001;Teskey et al 2008;Bloemen et al 2013), but nothing is known about these processes in the stems of Clusiacae. In our experiments we compared the CO 2 exchange in leaves and stems of C. multiflora and C. rosea, and we found clear diel changes in the net photosynthesis characteristic for C 3 and CAM plants, respectively (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…cp cortex parenchyma, sc sclerenchyma, ph phloem, xy xylem. Scale bar 500 lm Trees (2015) 29:1029-1040 1033 chlorenchymal tissues (Pfanz and Aschan 2001). In trees and schrubs, instead of net photosynthesis, respiratory CO 2 efflux is widely observed in the range of 1-4 lmol m -2 s -1 (Saveyn et al 2007;Cerasoli et al 2009).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In trees and schrubs, instead of net photosynthesis, respiratory CO 2 efflux is widely observed in the range of 1-4 lmol m -2 s -1 (Saveyn et al 2007;Cerasoli et al 2009). Calculated from CO 2 efflux (in light and dark conditions), efficient refixation of the respiratory CO 2 is considered a photosynthetic phenomenon of plant stems (Pfanz and Aschan 2001;Cerasoli et al 2009). Such refixation of internally available CO 2 is also described for the chlorophyllous stems of herbaceous plants, such as, e.g., parasitic Cuscuta species (Hibberd et al 1998).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Photosynthetic activity of stems in two Clusia species

Kocurek

Kornaś

Pilarski

et al. 2015

Trees

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Key message In stems of Clusia, CO 2 concentrated in the xylem sap in CAM trees can be fixed by PEPC and Rubisco, while in C 3 trees only Rubisco is engaged. Abstract The photosynthetic characteristics of 7-8-yearold stems of two tropical trees representing the Clusiaceae family were compared: Clusia multiflora Kunth. described as an obligate C 3 and Clusia rosea Jacq. as an obligate CAM plant. Photosynthetic gas exchange, xylem CO 2 concentration, chlorophyll distribution, 13 C discrimination, daily malate and citrate fluctuations and the abundance of Rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) and PEPC (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase) proteins were measured in leaves and stems. In stems of both species a low CO 2 efflux (in the range of 0.05-0.1 lmol m -2 s -1 ) was observed as a result of extremely low cork conductance for water vapor (0.15-0.2 mmol m -2 s -1 ). This led to the CO 2 concentration in xylem sap reaching 5.2 (CO 2 *) mmol l -1 . The substantial amount of chlorophyll in the outer part of the bark and light-induced decrease of CO 2 concentration within the xylem can be explained by photosynthetic activity in this tissue. Moreover, Western blotting analyses proved the presence of Rubisco in the stems of both Clusia species; however, PEPC was only found in C. rosea. Additionally, daily fluctuations in the concentration of citrate and malate (higher than in leaves) and significant enrichment in 13 C in C. rosea stems were observed. These facts allow us to conclude that the examined stems of C. rosea and C. multiflora represent specific types of photosynthetic metabolism.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Photosynthetic activity of stems in two Clusia species

Kocurek

Kornaś

Pilarski

et al. 2015

Trees

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“…Woody plants that have smooth bark typically have a layer of green, chlorophyllous tissue just beneath the bark surface (Sprugel and Benecke, 1991;Pfanz et al, 2002). This photosynthetic tissue refixes respired CO 2 , reducing the CO 2 efflux from the woody tissue in the presence of sunlight, thereby recycling part of the respired carbon that would have otherwise been lost from the plant to the atmosphere (Strain and Johnson, 1963;Benecke, 1985;Cernusak and Marshall, 2000;Pfanz and Aschan, 2000;Wittmann et al, 2006;McGuire et al, 2009). Net uptake of CO 2 from the atmosphere typically does not occur in the branches and stems of woody plants; therefore, the process has been termed refixation, or corticular photosynthesis, because most of the photosynthetic tissue is located in the bark cortex (Sprugel and Benecke, 1991;Nilsen, 1995).…”

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confidence: 99%

Stable Isotopes Reveal the Contribution of Corticular Photosynthesis to Growth in Branches of Eucalyptus miniata

Cernusak

Hutley

2010

Plant Physiol.

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The deciduous bark habit is widespread in the woody plant genus Eucalyptus. Species with deciduous bark seasonally shed a layer of dead bark, thereby maintaining smooth-bark surfaces on branches and stems as they age and increase in diameter. This has a significant cost in terms of fire protection, because smooth-barked species have thinner bark than rough-barked species that accumulate successive layers of dead bark. Eucalypts are closely associated with fire, suggesting that the smooth-bark habit must also provide a significant benefit. We suggest that this benefit is corticular photosynthesis. To test this, we quantified the contribution of corticular photosynthesis to wood production in smooth-barked branches of Eucalyptus miniata growing in tropical savanna in northern Australia. We covered branch sections with aluminum foil for 4 years to block corticular photosynthesis and then compared the oxygen and carbon stable isotope composition of foil-covered and uncovered branch sections. We developed theory to calculate the proportion of wood constructed from corticular photosynthate and the mean proportional refixation rate during corticular photosynthesis from the observed isotopic differences. Coverage with aluminum foil for 4 years increased wood d 13 C by 0.5‰ (P = 0.002, n = 6) and wood d 18 O by 0.5‰ (P = 0.02, n = 6). Based on these data, we estimated that 11% 6 3% of wood in the uncovered branch sections was constructed from corticular photosynthate, with a mean d 13 C of 234.8‰, and that the mean proportional refixation rate during corticular photosynthesis was 0.71 6 0.15. This demonstrates that corticular photosynthesis makes a significant contribution to the carbon economy of smooth-barked eucalypts.

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“…Root: shoot calculations include only an estimate of the total photosynthetic area of mature leaves as the main carbon source. Photosynthetic green stems contribute a substantial amount of carbon gain for many plant species (Pfanz & Aschan, 2001), but there is a large amount of variability between green-stemmed species in the relative contributions of photosynthetic organs. Green stems can contribute up to 50% of carbon gain in plants endemic to tropical dry or thorn woodlands, deserts and Mediterranean-type ecosystems (Nilsen, 1992a, Nilsen, 1992b.…”

Section: Main Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of phytophthora root rot resistance in avocado

Neilsen¹

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Avocado trees (Persea americana) affected by Phytophthora root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi produce copious amounts of small, poor quality fruit and without intervention, affected trees eventually die. Current management practices involve an integrated approach to disease management, including planting on well-draining soil with a high total cation exchange capacity, application of organic mulch, carefully monitored organic and inorganic nutrition, phosphonate applications and the use of tolerant rootstock varieties. Selection of rootstocks in breeding programs is a time consuming process involving extensive glasshouse and field screening but little is understood about the mechanisms underlying tolerance in elite selections. The overall aim of the research described in this thesis was to identify phenotypic differences across a range of avocado rootstock varieties with varying degrees of resistance/ susceptibility that may be associated with known field susceptibility.The first hypothesis tested in this thesis is that field resistant rootstock varieties have greater root regenerative ability than susceptible varieties. This hypothesis was tested using a glasshouse study of inherent root growth of seedlings as well as an inoculation study to investigate root system health and wilting in response to infection by P. cinnamomi. To investigate whether inherent root growth correlates with known field susceptibility of seedling rootstock varieties, a 2-pot root regeneration system was successfully developed and varietal differences in root: shoot ratio across nine seedling avocado varieties assessed. Seedling 'Hass' produced the greatest amount of feeder roots relative to the surface area of mature leaves, although overall differences between seedling varieties were not significant. The main finding of the glasshouse root growth studies was that there were no strong indications that inherent root growth and root system necrosis correlated with known field susceptibility.The second hypothesis tested was whether increased surface feeder root growth of mature trees and other tree physiology attributes such as stored non-structural starch, yield, tree health and growth measurements such as tree height and canopy volume have any association with known field susceptibility. At one experimental site, feeder root growth of mature trees measured over two seasons was not significantly different between rootstocks 'Dusa' and 'SHSR-04' and no significant differences or associations were found in stored starch, tree health, yield or tree growth parameters.At the second experimental site, there were also no significant differences detected in feeder root growth of rootstock varieties. Significant differences in tree physiology were detected among rootstocks with 'Velvick' having the strongest determinate vegetative growth measured and the highest level of stored non-structural starch, although it wasn't significantly higher than fieldsusceptible 'Reed'. Overall, results of field studies at both sites indicated that t...

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The Existence of Bark and Stem Photosynthesis in Woody Plants and Its Significance for the Overall Carbon Gain. An Eco-Physiological and Ecological Approach

Cited by 88 publications

References 69 publications

Photosynthetic activity of stems in two Clusia species

Photosynthetic activity of stems in two Clusia species

Stable Isotopes Reveal the Contribution of Corticular Photosynthesis to Growth in Branches of Eucalyptus miniata

Evaluation of phytophthora root rot resistance in avocado

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