Sugar infusion into trees: A novel method to study tree carbon relations and its regulations

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1142595
• Publication Date: 2023-02-23T13:13:25Z
• Authors: Yan-Li Zhang; Yue Yang; Matthias Saurer; Marcus Schaub; Arthur Gessler; Marco M. Lehmann; Andreas Rigling; Marco Walser; Beat Stierli; Noureddine Hajjar; Daniel Christen; Mai-He Li
• Keywords: Scots pine

Many carbon-related physiological questions in plants such as carbon (C) limitation or starvation have not yet been resolved thoroughly due to the lack of suitable experimental methodology. As a first step towards resolving these problems, we conducted infusion experiments with bonsai trees ( Ficus microcarpa ) and young maple Acer pseudoplatanus greenhouse, adult Scots pine Pinus sylvestris field, that were “fed” 13 C-labelled glucose either through phloem xylem. We then traced C-signal plant organic matter respiration test whether can take up metabolize exogenous sugars infused. Ten weeks after started, xylem but significantly increased δ C values both aboveground belowground tissues whereas pines field experiment, compared corresponding controls. The measurement experiment showed C-values shoot respired CO 2 at time four started. Our results clearly indicate do translocate infused, because layer is too thin, thus be better operated than infusion. This tree method developed here opens new avenues has great potential used for research on whole balance its regulation response environmental factors extreme stress conditions.