Artificially decreased vapour pressure deficit in field conditions modifies foliar metabolite profiles in birch and aspen.

ABSTRACT: Relative air humidity (RH) is expected to increase in northern Europe due to climate change. Increasing RH reduces the difference of water vapour pressure deficit (VPD) between the leaf and the atmosphere, and affects the gas exchange of plants. Little is known about the effects of decreased VPD on plant metabolism, especially under field conditions. This study was conducted to determine the effects of artificially decreased VPD on silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L.×P. tremuloides Michx.) foliar metabolite and nutrient profiles in a unique free air humidity manipulation (FAHM) field experiment during the fourth season of humidity manipulation, in 2011. Long-term exposure to decreased VPD modified nutrient homeostasis in tree leaves, as demonstrated by

SUBMITTER: Lihavainen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5301936 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature