Abstract

Starch retention and disappearance from leaves and carbon movement under various temperatures were studied in two alpine species, Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill and Phleum alpinum L., and in two low‐elevation species, Helianthus annuus L. and Elymus canadensis L. The alpine species exhibited starch disappearance from the leaf following cool night temperatures, whereas starch retention was noted under similar conditions for the low‐elevation species. The alpine species, Oxyria, exhibited the highest rates of starch disappearance from the leaf under cool temperatures as well as the highest carbohydrate translocation under cool temperatures. The low‐elevation species had low rates of starch disappearance and carbohydrate translocation under low temperatures, but exhibited relatively higher rates with an increase in temperature. Such a mechanism whereby alpine species can maintain relatively high rates of translocation under cold temperature represents a major form of physiological adaptation to the short, cool, growing season in the alpine tundra.

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