Multi-decadal tree-ring stable isotope records of apple and pear trees indicate coherent ecophysiological responses to environmental changes in alpine valleys.

ABSTRACT: The ecophysiological and ecohydrological impacts of climate change and progressively increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration on agroecosystems are not well understood compared to the forest ecosystems. In this study, we utilized the presence of old apple and pear trees in the alpine valleys of Northern Italy (maintained for cultural heritage purposes) to investigate climate-scale physiological responses. We developed long-term tree-ring stable isotopic records (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O) from apple (1976-2021) and pear trees (1943-2021). This allowed the reconstruction of key ecophysiological processes like the variations in intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE), and we investigated how these trees responded to climate and CO₂ change

SUBMITTER: Singh N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11757252 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature