Effects of Environmental Factors on the Nonstructural Carbohydrates in Larix principis-rupprechtii

Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) reflect the carbon balance in trees and play a central role in their responses to environmental stresses. However, our understanding of tree NSC storage dynamics under environmental stress is unclear. Here, we quantified the deciduous conifer Larix principis-rupprechtii at five altitudes on Luya Mountain, North-Central China. We measured NSCs in different organs and simultaneously monitored environmental variables during the growing seasons in 2018 and 2019. The results showed that temperature was the main environmental factor affecting tree NSCs. Furthermore, as the soil-atmosphere temperature gradient decreased, the concentrations of soluble sugars in the needles increased while their starch decreased, as well as the concentrations of starch in the shoots, stems, and roots increased. These results may indicate that temperature gradients may assist carbohydrate allocation within individual trees. The NSCs, especially starch, in the needles increased with lower soil moisture, and the soluble sugars and starch in the needles and shoots increased with a higher vapor pressure deficit. The soluble sugars in the stems were significantly affected by soil moisture, and the NSCs in the roots were mainly affected by temperature. These results provide new insights to improve our understanding of the environmental stress effects on future forest C balances.

Automated summary

This study investigated the impact of environmental stress on the storage dynamics of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) in Larix principis-rupprechtii on Luya Mountain, China. The results showed that temperature was the main environmental factor affecting tree NSCs. Decreasing soil-atmosphere temperature gradient led to increased concentrations of soluble sugars in needles and starch in shoots, stems, and roots.