Stable Isotope Labelling Reveals Water and Carbon Fluxes in Temperate Tree Saplings Before Budbreak.

ABSTRACT: Despite considerable experimental effort, the physiological mechanisms governing temperate tree species' water and carbon dynamics before the onset of the growing period remain poorly understood. We applied ²H-enriched water during winter dormancy to the soil of four potted European tree species. After 8 weeks of chilling, hydrogen isotopes in stem, twig and bud water were measured six times during 2 consecutive weeks of forcing conditions (Experiment 1). Additionally, we pulse-labelled above-ground plant tissues using ²H-enriched water vapour and ¹³C-enriched CO₂ 7 days after exposure to forcing conditions to trace atmospheric water and carbon uptake (Experiment 2). Experiment 1 revealed soil water incorporation into the above-ground organs of a

SUBMITTER: Walde MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11615418 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature