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Biochemical Basis of Altitude Adaptation and Antioxidant System Activity during Autumn Leaf Senescence in Beech Populations
- Source :
- Forests, Volume 12, Issue 5, Forests, Vol 12, Iss 529, p 529 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2021.
-
Abstract
- High-altitude tree populations are exposed to severe natural environmental conditions. Among abiotic factors, variable temperatures, early frosts, and high radiation are the factors affecting tree growth at high altitudes. Fagus sylvatica L. exhibits a variety of physiological and genetic traits that allow it to adapt to different forest habitats. This study examines the differences in the biochemical properties of senescing beech leaves between populations originating from different altitudes using a common-garden experiment. Leaves were collected from five-year-old plants from the beginning of August to the end of October for two years. Based on the changes in senescence marker levels the genetic differences and significant correlations between populations’ altitude origin and their biochemical characteristics were identified. According to the free radical theory of leaf senescence, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and senescence markers were highly correlated. In this study, populations from higher altitudes were characterized by earlier and greater increases in ROS content and oxidative stress, which resulted in higher antioxidative system activity. Increases in ROS in high-altitude populations play a controlling role to initiate earlier senescence processes that allow the trees to adapt to harsh climatic conditions. Earlier senescence allows beech trees to maintain a balance between nitrogen metabolism and photosynthetic activity. It allows for remobilization of nitrogen compounds more efficiently and protects the trees from nitrogen loss and prepares them for winter dormancy.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
Abiotic component
Senescence
biology
leaf senescence
Forestry
ROS
biology.organism_classification
Photosynthesis
010603 evolutionary biology
01 natural sciences
remobilization
Altitude
Fagus sylvatica
altitude adaptability
Botany
Dormancy
QK900-989
Plant ecology
Beech
Nitrogen cycle
010606 plant biology & botany
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19994907
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Forests
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....0f28190411a9fb6e9f6825318180fc23
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/f12050529