Accumulation of food reserves in cottonwood stems during dormancy induction

Abstract

Early chemical storage as related to growth changes that occur in cottonwood (Populusdeltoides Bartr. ex. Marsh) stems during dormancy induction was investigated. In this experiment, plant dormancy was induced by 8-h photoperiods (short days) and 20 °C: 14 °C temperature regimes. Tissue samples were taken at four stem positions for 8 weeks under short days. Leaf expansion and stem elongation had stopped by the 4th week under short days, and terminal buds had formed. Starch concentration in the lower stem began to increase during the 3rd week and continued throughout the dormancy induction period. By the 8th week starch concentration in the stem was about 24% residue dry weight (RDW). Total nonstructural carbohydrates (starch and soluble sugars) increased almost linearly after the 1st week to about 38% RDW. Free amino acids increased during the first 2 weeks to 1.6%, declined to 0.2% by 6 weeks, then remained constant. Triglyceride concentration remained level for the first 2 to 3 weeks, then increased from 1 to 3% RDW. Changes in the various chemical fractions were sequential and associated with different phases of dormancy induction. Cottonwood, although previously considered a "fat-storing" tree based on histochemical analyses of winter food reserves, stores primarily carbohydrate. Carbohydrate is stored initially as starch and then converted to soluble sugars under cold conditions.