Carbon allocation to growth and storage in Pinus Ponderosa during and following experimental carbohydrate limitation

Author

Ella M. Keefer, University of Montana, Missoula

Graduation Year

2024

Graduation Month

December

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science – Forestry

School or Department

Forestry and Conservation

Major

Environmental Science and Sustainability

Faculty Mentor Department

Biological Sciences, Division of

Faculty Mentor

Anna Sala

Keywords

Drought, conifer, non-structural carbohydrates, carbon allocation, forest conservation, climate change

Subject Categories

Plant Sciences

Abstract

Understanding how plants allocate carbohydrates to growth and storage in the face of drought and other stresses that reduce carbohydrate availability is crucial to predict ecosystem responses to future stress events. Growth is critical for resource acquisition while storage of carbohydrates is critical as a safeguard during stress. Despite this, how plants allocate carbohydrates to growth and to non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) storage under drought and carbohydrate limitation is poorly understood. We examined how carbohydrate limitation, with and without drought, affects carbon allocation to growth versus stored NSCs. We found that under carbon limitation and depletion of stored NSC, NSC storage is prioritized over both woody and foliage growth, and that foliage growth is prioritized over woody growth, presumably to increase carbon assimilation and prevent stored NSC depletion to below minimum thresholds required for metabolism and survival.

Honors College Research Project

1

GLI Capstone Project

no

Recommended Citation

Keefer, Ella M., "Carbon allocation to growth and storage in Pinus Ponderosa during and following experimental carbohydrate limitation" (2024). Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts. 535.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp/535