Characteristics of non-structural carbohydrate reserves of three dominant tree species in broadleaved Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountain, China.

Abstract

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC, including soluble sugars and starch) are key meta-bolites in tree, the storage characteristics of which in tree organs have received extensive attention. It is still unclear how NSC are allocated in the tissues (phloem and xylem) that have different function. In this study, we analyzed the concentration and allocation of NSC in the roots, and in phloem and xylem of the trunk in three dominant species of broadleaved Korean pine forest in the Changbai Mountain, Pinus koraiensis, Fraxinus mandschurica, and Tilia amurensis. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the concentration of NSC between the phloem and xylem. The soluble sugar dominated in the phloem, while starch dominated in the xylem. The concentration of NSC in trunk outside (divided by annual rings, 0-20 years), intermediate (20-40 years) and inner (>40 years) of different tree species was significantly different, but with no difference in the roots. The total soluble sugar concentration in the phloem of P. koraiensis and F. mandschurica was significantly higher than that of T. amurensis, while the difference in xylem was not significant. The results indicated that NSC allocation in the phloem and xylem of the tree had clear tissue differentiation, which might be related to the succession stage of the tree species or the functional evolution of the tissue. These findings would improve our understanding of the carbon storage characteristics and allocation mechanism in temperate trees.