Phloem Girdling of Norway Spruce Alters Quantity and Quality of Wood Formation in Roots Particularly Under Drought.

ABSTRACT: Carbon (C) availability plays an essential role in tree growth and wood formation. We evaluated the hypothesis that a decrease in C availability (i) triggers mobilization of C reserves in the coarse roots of Picea abies to maintain growth and (ii) causes modification of wood structure notably under drought. The 6-year-old saplings were subjected to two levels of soil moisture (watered versus drought conditions) and root C status was manipulated by physically blocking phloem transport in the stem at three girdling dates (GDs). Stem girdling was done before the onset of bud break [day of the year (doy) 77], during vigorous aboveground shoot and radial stem growth (GD doy 138), and after cessation of shoot growth (GD doy 190). The effect of blockage of C transport on root growth, root

SUBMITTER: Rainer-Lethaus G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5881222 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature