Fertilization Changes Chemical Defense in Needles of Mature Norway Spruce (Picea abies).

ABSTRACT: Nitrogen availability limits growth in most boreal forests. However, parts of the boreal zone receive significant levels of nitrogen deposition. At the same time, forests are fertilized to increase volume growth and carbon sequestration. No matter the source, increasing nitrogen in the boreal forest ecosystem will influence the resource situation for its primary producers, the plants, with possible implications for their defensive chemistry. In general, fertilization reduces phenolic compound concentrations in trees, but existing evidence mainly comes from studies on young plants. Given the role of the phenolic compounds in protection against herbivores and other forest pests, it is important to know if phenolics are reduced with fertilization also in mature trees. The evergreen Norway spr

SUBMITTER: Nybakken L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6000156 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature