Impact of Elevated PCO2 on Mass Flow of Reduced Nitrogen in Trees

• Published in: Journal of integrative plant biology 2006-12, Vol.48 (12), p.1385-1390
• Main Author: Liu, Xi-Ping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: beech; elevated PCO2; nitrogen mass flow; phloem; spruce; xylem
• ISSN: 1672-9072; 1744-7909
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2006.00338.x

To analyze the effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration (PCO2) on the mass flow of reduced nitrogen (N) in the phloem and xylem of trees, juvenile beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) were grown in phytotrons and exposed to ambient and elevated PCO2 (plus 687.5 mg/m3 CO2) for three growing seasons. Elevated PCO2 significantly decreased the mass flow of N from the shoot to roots of beech by significantly reducing the concentration of soluble amino compounds in the phloem, even if the area of conductive phloem of cross‐sectional bark tissue was significantly increased, because of less callus deposition in the sieve elements. In spruce, the downward mass flow of reduced N also tended to be decreased, similar to that in beech. Resembling findings in the phloem, N mass flow from roots to shoot in both tree species was significantly diminished owing to significantly reduced concentrations of amino compounds in the xylem and a lower transpiration rate. Therefore, the mass flow of reduced N between shoots and roots of trees was mainly governed by the concentrations of soluble amino compounds in the phloem and xylem in relation to the loading of reduced N in both long‐distance transport pathways. (Managing editor: Ya‐Qin Han)