Dynamics Of Non-structural Carbohydrates Research Articles

Halophytic succulence is a driver of the leaf non-structural carbohydrate contents in plants in the arid and hyper-arid deserts of northwestern China.

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), primarily sugars and starch, play a crucial role in plant metabolic processes and a plant's ability to tolerate and recover from drought stress. Despite their importance, our understanding of NSC characteristics in the leaves of plants that thrive in hyper-arid and saline environments remains limited. To investigate the variations in leaf NSC across different species and spatial scales, and to explore their possible causes, we collected 488 leaf samples from 49 native plant species at 115 sites in the desert area of northwestern China. The contents of soluble sugars (SS), starch, and total NSC were then determined. The average contents of SS, starch, and total NSC were 26.99, 60.28, and 87.27mg g-1 respectively, which are much lower than those reported for Chinese forest plants and global terrestrial plants. Herbaceous and woody plants had similar NSC levels. In contrast, succulent halophytes, a key component of desert flora, showed significantly lower leaf SS and total NSC contents than non-succulent plants. We observed a strong negative correlation between leaf succulence and SS content, suggesting a role of halophytic succulence in driving multi-species NSC pools. Environmental factors explained a minor portion of the spatial variation in leaf NSC, possibly due to the narrow climatic variation in the study area, and soil properties, particularly soil salinity, emerged as more significant contributors. Our findings increase the understanding of plant adaptation to drought and salt stress, emphasizing the crucial role of halophytic succulence in shaping the intricate dynamics of leaf NSC across diverse plant species in arid and hyper-arid environments.

Water and Fertilizer Management Is an Important Way to Synergistically Enhance the Yield, Rice Quality and Lodging Resistance of Hybrid Rice.

This study comprehensively investigated the synergistic effects and underlying mechanisms of optimized water and fertilizer management on the yield, quality, and lodging resistance of hybrid rice (Oryza sativa), through a two-year field experiment. Two hybrid rice varieties, Xinxiangliangyou 1751 (XXLY1751) and Yueliangyou Meixiang Xinzhan (YLYMXXZ), were subjected to three irrigation methods (W1: wet irrigation, W2: flooding irrigation, W3: shallow-wet-dry irrigation) and four nitrogen fertilizer treatments (F1 to F4 with application rates of 0, 180, 225, and 270 kg ha-1, respectively). Our results revealed that the W1F3 treatment significantly enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) accumulation, laying a robust foundation for high yield and quality. NSC accumulation not only supported rice growth but also directly influenced starch and protein synthesis, ensuring smooth grain filling and significantly improving yield and quality. Moreover, NSC strengthened stem fullness and thickness, converting them into structural carbohydrates such as cellulose and lignin, which substantially increased stem mechanical strength and lodging resistance. Statistical analysis demonstrated that water and fertilizer treatments had significant main and interactive effects on photosynthetic rate, dry matter accumulation, yield, quality parameters, NSC, cellulose, lignin, and stem bending resistance. This study reveals the intricate relationship between water and fertilizer management and NSC dynamics, providing valuable theoretical and practical insights for high-yield and high-quality cultivation of hybrid rice, significantly contributing to the sustainable development of modern agriculture.

Rice Yield and Grain Quality under Fluctuating Soil Moisture Stress

In rainfed lowlands and water-saving cultivation systems, rice plants are often exposed to soil moisture fluctuation (SMF). Improving yield as well as grain quality is the main target for breeding under water-stressed environments. This study investigated the effects of different water treatment on yield, growth parameters, and grain quality under field conditions in Japan for 2 years. Two rice genotypes, Nipponbare (japonica) and G3-3 (derived from Nipponbare and KDML105, indica), were grown under continuous waterlogging (CWL) and SMF conditions. As the grain quality characteristics, grain appearance, dimension, and taste parameters were evaluated as well as yield and yield components. SMF reduced the yield, and G3-3 showed a higher yield than Nipponbare under SMF, which was attributed to the higher number of spikelets per panicle. G3-3 showed a better taste score (mark) with lower protein and amylose contents compared to Nipponbare. However, G3-3 had a higher percentage of broken grains, indicating a trade-off in grain quality traits. Non-structural carbohydrate dynamics may be involved as one of the grain quality characteristics. G3-3 demonstrated a superior yield under SMF conditions and have potential to show superior grain quality, indicating that the introgressed segments of G3-3 may be responsible for the grain quality traits associated with root plasticity.

Seasonal patterns of nonstructural carbohydrate storage and mobilization in two tree species with distinct life-history traits.

Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) are essential for tree growth and adaptation, yet our understanding of the seasonal storage and mobilization dynamics of whole-tree NSC is still limited, especially when tree functional types are involved. Here, Quercus acutissima Carruth. and Pinus massoniana Lamb, with distinct life-history traits (i.e. a deciduous broadleaf species vs an evergreen coniferous species), were studied to assess the size and seasonal fluctuations of organ and whole-tree NSC pools with a focus on comparing differences in carbon resource mobilization patterns between the two species. We sampled the organs (leaf, branch, stem and root) of the target trees repeatedly over four seasons of the year. Then, NSC concentrations in each organ were paired with biomass estimates from the allometric model to generate whole-tree NSC pools. The seasonal dynamics of the whole-tree NSC of Q. acutissima and P. massoniana reached the peak in autumn and summer, respectively. The starch pools of the two species were supplemented in the growing season while the soluble sugar pools were the largest in the dormant season. Seasonal dynamics of organ-level NSC concentrations and pools were affected by organ type and tree species, with above-ground organs generally increasing during the growing season and P. massoniana roots decreasing during the growing season. In addition, the whole-tree NSC pools of P. massoniana were larger but Q. acutissima showed larger seasonal fluctuations, indicating that larger storage was not associated with more pronounced seasonal fluctuations. We also found that the branch and root were the most dynamic organs of Q. acutissima and P. massoniana, respectively, and were the major suppliers of NSC to support tree growth activities. These results provide fundamental insights into the dynamics and mobilization patterns of NSC at the whole-tree level, and have important implications for investigating environmental adaptions of different tree functional types.

Non-structural carbohydrate dynamics of Pinus yunnanensis seedlings under drought stress and re-watering

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are an important “buffer” for maintaining plant physiological functions under drought conditions; however, our understanding of the dynamics of NSC at the organ level during sustained drought of varying intensities and re-watering remains poor. In this study, two-year-old Pinus yunnanensis seedlings were subjected to drought and re-watering trials. Plants were subjected to three drought intensities (light drought, moderate drought, and severe drought) as well as control conditions (suitable moisture) for 51 days, including 30 days of drought followed by 21 days of re-watering for drought-treated seedlings, to study the dynamics of NSC in the leaves, stems, coarse roots, and fine roots. Changes in the distribution of NSC concentrations in the organ of P. yunnanensis seedlings under drought stress varied; in the early drought stages, the drought resistance of P. yunnanensis seedlings was enhanced by increasing soluble sugar concentrations; in later stages of drought, the stored starch in organs, stems, and coarse roots was consumed. Drought inhibited the growth of P. yunnanensis seedlings, but the maximum limit of drought tolerance was not reached under the different drought treatments after 30 days. P. yunnanensis seedlings in all treatment groups resumed growth after re-watering, and the growth of seedlings was actually promoted during re-watering in the moderate drought treatment group, indicating that drought induced the compensatory growth of seedlings. The growth of P. yunnanensis seedlings during re-watering was inhibited in the severe drought treatment group, and NSC continued to be regulated in seedlings in this group. Given that P. yunnanensis seedlings maintain growth through the consumption of coarse root starch in the late stages of drought, seedlings with a larger root-to-shoot ratio should be selected for cultivation in actual production. Based on our findings, exposure to moderate drought stress can enhance the drought tolerance of P. yunnanensis seedlings and promote the compensatory growth of seedlings.

Season of drought affects growth, but not nonstructural carbohydrates dynamics, in Pinus taeda saplings.

In temperate evergreen conifers, growth occurs mostly in summer but photosynthesis precedes year-round; thus, nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) increase in winter but decrease in summer. Given that mild drought reduces growth but not photosynthesis, a drought in summer should increase NSCs more than one in winter. However, the active regulation hypothesis suggests that to increase future drought resilience, plants might downregulate growth to increase NSCs after a winter drought even if NSCs do not increase during the drought. To test if so, potted Pinus taeda saplings (age $< 1$ yr) were subjected to six-month droughts in a greenhouse with one treatment receiving drought during winter (Sep-Mar), and another during summer (Mar-Sep). Both treatments were compared to a control. To measure dry biomass and NSCs, we harvested plants monthly following each drought, while to assess changes in growth rates, we measured height and diameter monthly. While we observed seasonal variation and an overall increase during the study, we found no drought-related changes in NSC dynamics; however, drought did reduce growth. Furthermore, drought in winter did reduce growth during the following summer, but the reduction was less than for a drought in summer. We conclude that the effect of drought on NSCs was too small to detect in our plants. While better control of soil water would have reduced a major source of uncertainty, plants with larger NSC reserves or more intense stress would also yield easier-to-detect effects. Although not definitive, our results suggest that water stress does not lead to dramatic changes in seasonal NSC dynamics in its aftermath, despite what one might expect under the active regulation hypothesis.

Circadian characterization of non-structural carbohydrate dynamics in the Caatinga pioneer tree Erythrina velutina during late seedling establishment

Circadian characterization of non-structural carbohydrate dynamics in the Caatinga pioneer tree Erythrina velutina during late seedling establishment

Nonstructural carbohydrate dynamics' relationship to leaf development under varying environments.

Leaf-out in temperate forests is a critical transition point each spring and advancing with global change. The mechanism linking phenological variation to external cues is poorly understood. Nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) availability may be key. Here, we use branch cuttings from northern red oak (Quercus rubra) and measure NSCs throughout bud development in branch tissue. Given genes and environment influence phenology, we placed branches in an arrayed factorial experiment (three temperatures × two photoperiods, eight genotypes) to examine their impact on variation in leaf-out timing and corresponding NSCs. Despite significant differences in leaf-out timing between treatments, NSC patterns were much more consistent, with all treatments and genotypes displaying similar NSC concentrations across phenophases. Notably, the moderate and hot temperature treatments reached the same NSC concentrations and phenophases at the same growing degree days (GDD), but 20 calendar days apart, while the cold treatment achieved only half the GDD of the other two. Our results suggest that NSCs are coordinated with leaf-out and could act as a molecular clock, signaling to cells the passage of time and triggering leaf development to begin. This link between NSCs and budburst is critical for improving predictions of phenological timing.

A first look at non-structural carbohydrate dynamics in hazelnuts

A first look at non-structural carbohydrate dynamics in hazelnuts

Tropical forest lianas have greater non-structural carbohydrate concentrations in the stem xylem than trees.

Lianas (woody vines) are important components of tropical forests and are known to compete with host trees for resources, decrease tree growth and increase tree mortality. Given the observed increases in liana abundance in some forests and their impacts on forest function, an integrated understanding of carbon dynamics of lianas and liana-infested host trees is critical for improved prediction of tropical forest responses to climate change. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are the main substrate for plant metabolism (e.g., growth, respiration), and have been implicated in enabling tree survival under environmental stress, but little is known of how they vary among life-forms or of how liana infestation impacts host tree NSC. We quantified stem total NSC (NSC) concentrations and its fractions (starch and soluble sugars) in trees without liana infestation, trees with more than 50% of the canopy covered by lianas, and the lianas infesting those trees. We hypothesized that i) liana infestation depletes NSC storage in host trees by reducing carbon assimilation due to competition for resources; ii) trees and lianas, which greatly differ in functional traits related to water transport and carbon uptake, would also have large differences in NSC storage, and that As water availability has a significant role in NSC dynamics of Amazonian tree species, we tested these hypotheses within a moist site in western Amazonia and a drier forest site in southern Amazonia. We did not find any difference in NSC, starch or soluble sugar concentrations between infested and non-infested trees, in either site. This result suggests that negative liana impact on trees may be mediated through mechanisms other than depletion of host tree NSC concentrations. We found lianas have higher stem NSC and starch than trees in both sites. The consistent differences in starch concentrations, a long term NSC reserve, between life forms across sites reflect differences in carbon gain and use of lianas and trees. Soluble sugar concentrations were higher in lianas than in trees in the moist site but indistinguishable between life forms in the dry site. The lack of difference in soluble sugars between trees and lianas in the dry site emphasize the importance of this NSC fraction for plant metabolism of plants occurring in water limited environments. Abstract in Portuguese and Spanish are available in the supplementary material.

Modeling of non-structural carbohydrate dynamics by the spatially explicit individual-based dynamic global vegetation model SEIB-DGVM (SEIB-DGVM-NSC version 1.0)

Abstract. Forest dynamics need to be considered when estimating the global carbon budget. The alteration of forest structure and function under a changing climate and expanding human activity could lead to a reduction of forest canopy cover and a spread of lower-biomass ecosystems in warm and dry regions. A non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) acts as a storage buffer between carbon supplied by assimilation and carbon consumed by, inter alia, respiration, reproduction, and pests. Estimation of NSC concentrations in a tree is very important for accurate projection of future forest dynamics. We developed a new NSC module for incorporation into a spatially explicit individual-based dynamic global vegetation model (SEIB-DGVM) to validate the simulated NSC dynamics with observations. NSC pools were simulated in three plant organs: leaves, trunk, and roots. The seasonal dynamics of the NSCs varied among plant species, and the sizes of the NSC pools inferred from observations differed between the boreal, temperate, and tropical climates. The NSC models were therefore validated for each of the three climatic regions at both point and global scales to assess the performance of the models. The modeled NSCs showed good agreement in seasonality with the observed NSCs at four sites – Canada (boreal), Austria and Switzerland (temperate), and Panama (tropical) – and in mean values for three climate zones derived from the global NSC dataset. The SEIB-DGVM-NSC version 1.0 is expected to enable simulation of biome shifts caused by the changes in NSC dynamics worldwide. These dynamics will contribute to changes in not only the global carbon cycle but also in forest structure and demography at a global scale.

Root relative water content is a potential signal for impending mortality of a subtropical conifer during extreme drought stress.

Adaptation to future climates characterized by more frequent severe droughts requires enhanced mechanistic understanding of tree mortality. However, our knowledge of the physiological limits to withstand extreme drought, and how the coordination between water and carbon traits enhances survival, is still limited. Potted seedlings of Pinus massoniana were dehydrated to three target droughts (percentage loss of stem hydraulic conductivity of ca. 50%, 85%, and 100%; PLC50 , PLC85 and PLC100 ) and then relieved from these target droughts by fully rewatering. Predawn and midday water potentials (Ψ), relative water content (RWC), PLC and nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) were monitored. During drought, Ψ and RWC declined as PLC increased. Root RWC declined more rapidly than other organ RWCs, particularly after PLC50 stress. All organ NSC concentrations were above predrought values. During rewatering, water trait recovery declined as drought increased, with no mortality at PLC50 but 75% mortality at PLC85 . The observed stem hydraulic recovery at PLC50 following rewatering was not correlated to NSC dynamics. Collectively, our results highlighted the primary role of hydraulic failure in Pinus massoniana seedling mortality by assessing mortality threshold and links among water status and water supply. Root RWC can be considered as a potential warning signal of P. massoniana mortality.

Effect of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi on the Drought Resistance of Pinus massoniana Seedlings.

Studies on the dynamics of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) play an important role in understanding the mechanisms of plant responses to drought stress. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) on the content and distribution of NSCs in Pinus massoniana seedlings under different drought intensities and to further explore the possible mechanism by which ECMF enhances the stress resistance of host plants. We conducted a pot experiment using P. massoniana seedlings that were inoculated (M) or non-inoculated (NM) with Suillus luteus (Sl) under well-watered, moderate, and severe drought stress conditions. The results showed that drought significantly reduced the photosynthetic capacity of P. massoniana seedlings and inhibited their growth rate. P. massoniana could respond to different degrees of drought stress by increasing the accumulation of NSCs and increasing WUE. However, compared with well-watered treatment, NSCs consumption began to appear in the roots of NM due to the decrease in starch content under severe drought, whereas NSCs content in M seedlings was higher than that in the well-watered treatment, showing that the ability to maintain C balance was higher in M seedlings. Compared with NM, inoculation with Sl increased the growth rate and biomass of roots, stems, and leaves under moderate and severe drought. In addition, Sl can also improve the gas exchange parameters (net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, intercellular CO2 concentration and stomatal conductance) of P. massoniana seedlings compared with NM seedlings, which was conducive to the hydraulic regulation of seedlings and improved their C fixation capacity. Meanwhile, the content of NSCs in M seedlings was higher. Moreover, the soluble sugar content and SS/St ratio of leaves, roots, and whole plants were higher under drought stress after Sl inoculation, indicating that Sl could also change the C distribution mode, regulate more soluble sugar to respond to drought stress, which was conducive to improving the osmotic adjustment ability of seedlings, and providing more available C sources for plant growth and defense. Overall, inoculation with Sl could enhance the drought resistance of seedlings and promote their growth under drought stress by improving NSCs storage, increasing soluble sugar distribution, and improving the plant water balance of P. massoniana seedlings.

Non-Structural Carbohydrates and Growth Adaptation Strategies of Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. Seedlings under Drought Stress

Under drought stress, plants can change their morphology, physiological characteristics, and carbon allocation to maintain survival and growth. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are major substrates for plant metabolism and play an important role in seedling survival and growth under drought conditions. Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb.), a constructive species distributed in northeast China, has a high drought tolerance. However, studies on seedling growth and the NSC dynamics of Mongolian oak under different drought intensities and durations are limited. To investigate this, our study measured photosynthetic characteristics, growth, biomass, and NSC concentrations for Mongolian oak seedlings on the 0, 15th, 30th, 45th, and 60th day of the experiment under three soil moisture conditions [75% ± 5% (CK), 50% ± 5% (W1), and 23% ± 5% (W2) of soil moisture field capacity (FC)]. Results showed that the growth and biomass gradually decreased as the soil moisture decreased, but the root: shoot ratio and root biomass allocation ratio gradually increased. In the W1 treatment (moderate drought), NSC content in the stems and taproots was 7.42% and 16.39% higher than those in CK at 60 days. However, in W2 treatment (severe drought), NSC content in the stems and taproots was significantly higher than those in CK during the whole period (p &lt; 0.05), and they were 14.14% and 26.69% higher than those in CK at 60 days. We found that, under drought stress, Mongolian oak seedlings had lower growth but higher allocation to root biomass and higher NSC content in stems and roots. Furthermore, the root system became a vital carbon sink under drought stress and was beneficial for seedling survival.

Modeling starch dynamics from seasonal variations of photosynthesis, growth, and respiration.

Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) buffer differences in plant carbon supply (photosynthesis) and demand (respiration, growth, etc.) but the regulation of their dynamics remains unresolved. Seasonal variations in NSCs are well-documented, but differences in the time-average, amplitude, phase, and other characteristics across ecosystems and functional types lack explanation; furthermore, observed dynamics do not always match expectations. The failure to match observed and expected dynamics has stimulated debate on whether carbon supply or demand drives NSC dynamics. To gain insight into how carbon supply and demand drive seasonal NSC dynamics, we derive a simple model of NSC dynamics based on carbon mass balance and linearizing the NSC demand to determine how supply-driven and demand-driven seasonal NSC dynamics differ. We find that supply-driven and demand-driven dynamics yield distinct timings of seasonal extrema, and supply overrides demand when carbon supply is low in winter (e.g., at high latitudes). Our results also suggest that NSC dynamics often lag changes carbon mass balance. We also predict differences in NSC dynamics across mass, suggesting saplings are more dynamics and respond faster to the environment than mature trees. Our findings suggest substrate-dependent regulation with environmental variation is sufficient to generate complex NSC dynamics.

Concurrent time course of xylem hydraulic dysfunction and non-structural carbohydrates under contrasting water deficits and nitrogen supplies in poplar

We compared the temporal dynamics of growth, leaf gas exchange, xylem hydraulic dysfunction and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) of two poplar hybrid genotypes subjected to a differential nitrogen (N) supply under contrasting water deficits. Moderate water deficit generated intermediate embolism rates (45–70%) but had marginal effects on NSC. Severe water deficit generated progressive hydraulic failure and NSC reduction, leading to tree death within 90 days. At death, NSC in perennial tissues were not entirely depleted because of remaining soluble sugars. Higher N availability primarily affected growth and NSC dynamics (mainly starch), not embolism dynamics. The faster growing genotype benefiting most from N addition ceased growth and photosynthesis almost simultaneously, with no effect of N addition on process cessation, leading to progressive starch depletion during severe drought. In contrast, the slower growing genotype ceased growth before photosynthesis, leading to a transient increase in starch concentration during early drought stages, but this tended to be suppressed by higher N availability. Altogether, our findings indicate that carbon starvation alone is unlikely in hydraulically vulnerable species such as poplar even under prolonged moderate water deficit, but starch relative depletion covaries in time with progressive hydraulic failure under lethal water deficit. Nutritional status has the potential to shape drought responses, primarily through adjustments in carbon source-sink relations rather than in intrinsic xylem hydraulics, in a genotype-dependent manner. Exploring how hydraulic and carbon safety margins can be coordinated within species would be valuable in understanding how variation in drought response strategies can be exploited in breeding/selection.

Using a Simple Representation of Non‐Structural Carbohydrates Allocation to Predict Wood Growth in Temperate Forests

AbstractWood growth is an important process of carbon sequestration and plant physiology in forest ecosystems. Hence, understanding and predicting wood growth is central to quantifying forest carbon cycling. Current dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) are mainly driven by carbon inputs (e.g., Gross Primary Production, GPP). However, observations indicate that wood growth is often independent of carbon flux at the annual scale. Here, we revised a DGVM, FORCCHN2 model, to use the active non‐structural carbohydrates (NSC) pool and slow NSC pool (i.e., represented temporary and long‐term NSC storage, respectively), and to integrate the stored NSC with annual wood growth. For the diameter increments (ΔDBH) and aboveground wood growth of 506 trees in 32 plots of Harvard Forest, we tested the NSC allocation coefficients from 5% to 95%. The predictions reproduced 31.2%–55.1% of individual‐tree ΔDBH and 36.8%–43.0% of the aboveground wood increment. Trees of shade‐intolerant species invested more of their available carbon resources (i.e., NSC storage) into wood growth than shade‐tolerant species. Specifically, the shade‐tolerant trees consumed approximately 32% NSC storage by wood growth at the annual scale, while the shade‐intolerant trees consumed about 90%. Our study provides a simple framework that constructs a direct link between annual wood growth and NSC dynamics. The findings highlight the need for research into NSC storage and allocation in trees, particularly in considering NSC allocation strategies of different tree species.

Long-term snow alters the sensitivity of nonstructural carbohydrates of Syntrichia caninervis to snow cover: Based on a 7-year experiment.

The dynamics of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) profoundly affect productivity and ecological adaptability to adversity in plants. Global warming induced the frequent occurrence of extreme precipitation events that altered the winter snow pattern in deserts. However, there is a lack of understanding of how desert mosses respond to long-term snow cover change at the NSC level. Therefore, in this study, long-term (7-years) winter snow removal (-S), ambient snow (CK), and double snow (+S) experiments were set in the field to investigate the content of NSC and its component in Syntrichia Caninervis. Our results showed that changes in snow depth, snow years, and their interaction significantly affected NSC and its component of Syntrichia caninervis. Compared to snow removal, NSC, soluble sugar, and starch significantly decreased with the increasing snow depth. The ratio of soluble sugar to starch significantly increased, while NSC and soluble sugar gradually returned to the normal level with an increase in snow years. It is worth mentioning that snow removal significantly reduced the soluble sugar to starch ratio compared to ambient snow depth, whereas the double snow experiment significantly increased the ratio of soluble sugar to starch during winter. This indicated an obvious trade-off between carbon utilization and carbon storage in Syntrichia caninervis. Snow removal stimulated Syntrichia caninervis to store sufficient carbon sources by starch accumulation for its future growth, while double snow promoted its current growth by soluble sugar accumulation. The variance in decomposition showed that soil physical and chemical properties, snow cover, and their interaction explained 83% of the variation in NSC and its components, with soil and plant water content, pH, and electrical conductivity (P-WC, S-WC, S-pH, and S-EC) as significant predictors. This highlights that snow indirectly affected NSC and its component contents by changing soil physical and chemical properties; however, long-term changes in snow cover could slow down its sensitivity to snow.

Non-structural carbohydrate dynamics and growth in tomato plants grown at fluctuating light and temperature.

Fluctuations in light intensity and temperature lead to periods of asynchrony between carbon (C) supply by photosynthesis and C demand by the plant organs. Storage and remobilization of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are important processes that allow plants to buffer these fluctuations. We aimed to test the hypothesis that C storage and remobilization can buffer the effects of temperature and light fluctuations on growth of tomato plants. Tomato plants were grown at temperature amplitudes of 3 or 10°C (deviation around the mean of 22°C) combined with integration periods (IP) of 2 or 10 days. Temperature and light were applied in Phase (high temperature simultaneously with high light intensity, (400 μmol m–2 s–1), low temperature simultaneously with low light intensity (200 μmol m–2 s–1) or in Antiphase (high temperature with low light intensity, low temperature with high light intensity). A control treatment with constant temperature (22°C) and a constant light intensity (300 μmol m–2 s–1) was also applied. After 20 days all treatments had received the same temperature and light integral. Differences in final structural dry weight were relatively small, while NSC concentrations were highly dynamic and followed changes of light and temperature (a positive correlation with decreasing temperature and increasing light intensity). High temperature and low light intensity lead to depletion of the NSC pool, but NSC level never dropped below 8% of the plant weight and this fraction was not mobilizable. Our results suggest that growing plants under fluctuating conditions do not necessarily have detrimental effects on plant growth and may improve biomass production in plants. These findings highlight the importance in the NSC pool dynamics to buffer fluctuations of light and temperature on plant structural growth.

Species- and compound-specific dynamics of nonstructural carbohydrates toward the world’s upper distribution of vascular plants

Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) are the crucial components of plant metabolism, and NSC dynamics provide essential information on plant carbon balance, which usually changes toward the distribution limits of plants. NSC have been extensively used to study the elevational limit in trees all around the world. For alpine herbs, which occupy vast areas beyond treelines, such investigations are still lacking. To assess whether carbon supply is a limiting factor for the upper distribution limits of alpine herbs, we studied NSC in belowground organs of 11 perennial species across their 4500–6000 m elevation ranges in the Western Himalayas at the peak of the growing season. We found a general elevational increase in total NSC within and across species. Studied alpine plants contain simple sugars and fructans as the main NSC and less so starch. Species- and compound-specific elevation patterns were found for different NSC compounds, suggesting a regulatory role of NSC in alpine herbs acclimation rather than a general accumulation of all NSC resulting from growth limitation. Similar to studies on treeline NSC dynamics, our study shows that reduced carbon supply is an unlikely cause of high-elevation range limits in herbs. Yet, the elevational NSC dynamics in alpine herbs still needs further exploration, with an emphasis on different compounds and their function in acclimatory metabolic processes, to clearly identify the key mechanisms determining plant range limits. • Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) shortage is not a cause of plant elevation limits • Total NSC in studied Himalayan plants generally increased with elevation. • Simple sugars and fructans predominate in plant belowground organs. • Individual types of NSC compounds suggest an active acclimation to elevation