Cold-season patterns of reserve and soluble carbohydrates in sugar maple and ice-damaged trees of two age classes following drought

Abstract

This study examines the effects of summer drought on the composition and profiles of cold-season reserve and soluble carbohydrates in sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.) trees (50–100 years old or ∼200 years old) in which the crowns were nondamaged or damaged by the 1998 ice storm. The overall cold season reserve carbohydrate profiles in twig wood tissue of drought-stressed (DS) trees and non-drought-stressed (NDS) trees were generally similar, although differences were observed in the amount of reserve carbohydrates in DS and NDS trees. The cold-season level of starch stored in DS trees in early autumn in the wood tissue was about one-third to one-fifth that in NDS trees. The cold season sugar content in the DS trees was significantly greater than can be attributed to degradation of stored starch, only. The level of sucrose in DS trees remained high throughout the winter until termination of dormancy and dehardening. The concentrations of winter glucose and fructose in DS trees attained peak levels at the time of dormancy termination and declined during dehardening. The profiles of glucose and fructose in DS and damaged DS trees were generally different from that of sucrose throughout the leafless phase. In contrast, profiles of glucose and fructose in NDS trees closely paralleled that of sucrose. Elevated levels of sucrose, glucose, and fructose in DS sugar maple trees during the cold season may function as osmoregulators for freeze protection. Low sugar level or lack of increase in sugar level following dehardening in DS trees may suggest limited change in cellular constituents in adapting to low temperatures.