Late-season biosynthesis of leaf fatty acids and n-alkanes of a mature beech (Fagus sylvatica) tree traced via 13CO2 pulse-chase labelling and compound-specific isotope analysis

Leaf cuticular waxes play an important role in reducing evapotranspiration via diffusion. However, the ability of mature trees to regulate the biosynthesis of waxes to changing conditions (e.g., drought, light exposition) remain an open question, especially during the late growing season. This holds also true for one of the most widely distributed trees in Central Europe, the European beech tree (Fagus sylvatica L.). In order to investigate the ongoing formation of wax constituents like alkanes and fatty acids, we conducted a (CO2)-C-13 pulse-chase labelling experiment on sun-exposed and shaded branches of a mature beech tree during the late summer 2018. The C-13-label was traced via compound-specific delta C-13 isotope analysis of n-alkanes and fatty acids to determine the de-novo biosynthesis within these compound classes. We did not observe a significant change in lipid concentrations during the late growing season, but we found higher n-alkane concentrations in sun-exposed compared to shaded leaves in August and September. The n-alkane and fatty acid composition showed ongoing modifications during the late growing season. Together with the uptake and following subsequent decrease of the C-13-label, this suggests ongoing de-novo biosynthesis, especially of fatty acids in European beech leaves. Moreover, there is a high variability in the C-13-label among individual branches and between sun-exposed and shaded leaves. At the same time, sun-exposed leaves invest more of the assimilated C into secondary metabolites such as lipids than shaded leaves. This indicates that the investigated mature beech tree could adjust its lipid production and composition in order to acclimate to changes in microclimates within the tree crown and during the investigated period.

Automated summary

Leaf cuticular waxes play a crucial role in reducing evapotranspiration, but it remains unclear how mature trees adjust their wax biosynthesis to changing conditions. In this study, we investigated the formation of wax constituents in sun-exposed and shaded branches of mature European beech tree during the late summer. Our results showed ongoing modifications in the composition of n-alkanes and fatty acids, indicating de-novo biosynthesis. Moreover, sun-exposed leaves had higher concentrations of n-alkanes and invested more assimilated carbon into lipids than shaded leaves.