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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2000; 2(1): 113-120
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-9153
Original Paper
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

The Effect of Elevated [CO2] on Uptake and Allocation of 13C and 15N in Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) during Leafing

J. Dyckmans 1 , H. Flessa 1 , Andrea Polle 2 , and F. Beese 1
  • 1 Institute of Soil Science and Forest Nutrition
  • 2 Institute of Forest Botany, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

September 1, 1999

November 18, 1999

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

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Abstract:

A continuous dual 13CO2 and 15NH4 15NO3 labelling experiment was undertaken to determine the effects of ambient (350 ìmol mol−1) or elevated (700 ìmol mol−1) atmospheric CO2 concentrations on C and N uptake and allocation within 3-year-old beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) during leafing. After six weeks of growth, total carbon uptake was increased by 63 % (calculated on total C content) under elevated CO2 but the carbon partitioning was not altered. 56 % of the new carbon was found in the leaves. On a dry weight basis was the content of structural biomass in leaves 10 % lower and the lignin content remained unaffected under elevated as compared to ambient [CO2]. Under ambient [CO2] 37 %, and under elevated [CO2] 51 %, of the lignin C of the leaves derived from new assimilates. For both treatments, internal N pools provided more than 90 % of the nitrogen used for leaf-growth and the partitioning of nitrogen was not altered under elevated [CO2]. The C/N ratio was unaffected by elevated [CO2] at the whole plant level, but the C/N ratio of the new C and N uptake was increased by 32 % under elevated [CO2].

Abbreviations:

PDB: PeeDee Belemnite RSA: relative specific allocation R/S ratio: root/shoot ratio

Key words:

Fagus sylvatica - elevated CO2 - root respiration - nutrient cycling - lignin - structural biomass - stable isotope

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J. Dyckmans

Institute of Soil Science and Forest Nutrition University of Göttingen

Büsgenweg 2

37077 Göttingen

Germany

Section Editor: M. Riederer

Email: jdyckma@gwdg.de