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Light availability drives vertical canopy gradients in photosynthetic functioning and carbon (C) balance, yet patterns of variability in these gradients remain unclear. We measured light availability, photosynthetic CO2 and light response curves, foliar C, nitrogen (N) and pigment concentrations, and the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) on upper and lower canopy needles of white spruce trees (Picea glauca) at the species' northern and southern range extremes. We combined our photosynthetic data with previously published respiratory data to compare and contrast canopy C balance between latitudinal extremes. We found steep canopy gradients in irradiance, photosynthesis and leaf traits at the southern range limit, but a lack of variation across canopy positions at the northern range limit. Thus, unlike many tree species from tropical to mid‐latitude forests, high latitude trees may not require vertical gradients of metabolic activity to optimize photosynthetic C gain. Consequently, accounting for self‐shading is less critical for predicting gross primary productivity at northern relative to southern latitudes. Northern trees also had a significantly smaller net positive leaf C balance than southern trees suggesting that, regardless of canopy position, low photosynthetic rates coupled with high respiratory costs may ultimately constrain the northern range limit of this widely distributed boreal species. Summary statement: Canopy gradients in photosynthetic capacity of white spruce diminish at high compared to low latitudes. Low carbon balance in high latitude trees may determine the extent of northern treeline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White spruce (Picea glauca) spans a massive range, yet the variability in respiratory physiology and related implications for tree carbon balance at the extremes of this distribution remain as enigmas. Working at both the most northern and southern extents of the distribution range more than 5000 km apart, we measured the short‐term temperature response of dark respiration (R/T) at upper and lower canopy positions. R/T curves were fit to both polynomial and thermodynamic models so that model parameters could be compared among locations, canopy positions, and with previously published data. Respiration measured at 25°C (R25) was 68% lower at the southern location than at the northern location, resulting in a significantly lower intercept in R/T response in temperate trees. Only at the southern location did upper canopy leaves have a steeper temperature response than lower canopy leaves, likely reflecting canopy gradients in light. At the northern range limit respiration is nearly twice that of the average R25 reported in a global leaf respiration database. We predict that without significant thermal acclimation, respiration will increase with projected end‐of‐the‐century warming and will likely constrain the future range limits of this important boreal species. Summary Statement: White spruce (Picea glauca) needle respiration at the northern limit of the species range is three times higher than at the southern range limit (when measured at 25°C). This high carbon cost likely challenges tree survival and contributes to the location of the northern treeline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate warming is expected to increase the seasonal duration of photosynthetic carbon fixation and tree growth in high-latitude forests. However, photoperiod, a crucial cue for seasonality, will remain constant, which may constrain tree responses to warming. We investigated the effects of temperature and photoperiod on weekly changes in photosynthetic capacity, leaf biochemistry and growth in seedlings of a boreal evergreen conifer, white spruce [ Picea glauca (Moench) Voss]. Warming delayed autumn declines in photosynthetic capacity, extending the period when seedlings had high carbon uptake. While photoperiod was correlated with photosynthetic capacity, short photoperiods did not constrain the maintenance of high photosynthetic capacity under warming. Rubisco concentration dynamics were affected by temperature but not photoperiod, while leaf pigment concentrations were unaffected by treatments. Respiration rates at 25 °C were stimulated by photoperiod, although respiration at the growth temperatures was increased in warming treatments. Seedling growth was stimulated by increased photoperiod and suppressed by warming. We demonstrate that temperature is a stronger control on the seasonal timing of photosynthetic down-regulation than is photoperiod. Thus, while warming can stimulate carbon uptake in boreal conifers, the extra carbon may be directed towards respiration rather than biomass, potentially limiting carbon sequestration under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In the autumn, stems of woody perennials such as forest trees undergo a transition from active growth to dormancy. We used microarray transcriptomic profiling in combination with a proteomics analysis to elucidate processes that occur during this growth-to-dormancy transition in a conifer, white spruce ( Picea glauca[Moench] Voss). Several differentially expressed genes were likely associated with the developmental transition that occurs during growth cessation in the cambial zone and the concomitant completion of cell maturation in vascular tissues. Genes encoding for cell wall and membrane biosynthetic enzymes showed transcript abundance patterns consistent with completion of cell maturation, and also of cell wall and membrane modifications potentially enabling cells to withstand the harsh conditions of winter. Several differentially expressed genes were identified that encoded putative regulators of cambial activity, cell development and of the photoperiodic pathway. Reconfiguration of carbon allocation figured centrally in the tree's overwintering preparations. For example, genes associated with carbon-based defences such as terpenoids were down-regulated, while many genes associated with protein-based defences and other stress mitigation mechanisms were up-regulated. Several of these correspond to proteins that were accumulated during the growth-to-dormancy transition, emphasizing the importance of stress protection in the tree's adaptive response to overwintering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bud formation is an adaptive trait that temperate forest trees have acquired to facilitate seasonal synchronization. We have characterized transcriptome-level changes that occur during bud formation of white spruce [ Picea glauca (Moench) Voss], a primarily determinate species in which preformed stem units contained within the apical bud constitute most of next season's growth. Microarray analysis identified 4460 differentially expressed sequences in shoot tips during short day-induced bud formation. Cluster analysis revealed distinct temporal patterns of expression, and functional classification of genes in these clusters implied molecular processes that coincide with anatomical changes occurring in the developing bud. Comparing expression profiles in developing buds under long day and short day conditions identified possible photoperiod-responsive genes that may not be essential for bud development. Several genes putatively associated with hormone signalling were identified, and hormone quantification revealed distinct profiles for abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinins, auxin and their metabolites that can be related to morphological changes to the bud. Comparison of gene expression profiles during bud formation in different tissues revealed 108 genes that are differentially expressed only in developing buds and show greater transcript abundance in developing buds than other tissues. These findings provide a temporal roadmap of bud formation in white spruce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of nitrogen stress on needle δ13C, water-use efficiency (WUE) and biomass production in irrigated and dry land white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings was investigated. Sixteen hundred seedlings, representing 10 controlled crosses, were planted in the field in individual buried sand-filled cylinders. Two nitrogen treatments were imposed, nitrogen stressed and fertilized. The ranking of δ13C of the crosses was maintained across all combinations of water and nitrogen treatments and there was not a significant genetic versus environmental interaction. The positive relationships between needle δ13C, WUE and dry matter production demonstrate that it should be possible to use δ13C as a surrogate for WUE, and to select for increased WUE without compromising yield, even in nitrogen deficient environments. Nitrogen stressed seedlings had the lowest needle δ13C in both irrigated and dry land conditions. There was a positive correlation between needle nitrogen content and δ13C that was likely associated with increased photosynthetic capacity. There was some indication that decreased nitrogen supply led to increased stomatal conductance and hence lower WUE. There was a negative correlation between intrinsic water use efficiency and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). This suggests that white spruce seedlings have the ability to maximize NUE when water becomes limited. There was significant genetic variation in NUE that was maintained across treatments. Our results suggest that in white spruce, there is no detectable effect of anaplerotic carbon fixation and that it is more appropriate to use a value of 29‰ (‘Rubisco only’) for the net discrimination against 13C during CO2 fixation. This leads to excellent correspondence between values of Ci/Ca derived from gas exchange measurements... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship among water use efficiency (WUE), productivity and carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings was investigated. Sixteen hundred seedlings representing 10 controlled crosses were planted in the field in individual buried sand-filled cylinders. The soil water content in the cylinders was measured using time domain reflectometry over two growing seasons and seedling water use deters mined by water balance, Two watering treatments were imposed: irrigation and dry land. There was significant (1.6-2.0%o) genetic variation in needle δ13 C. Ranking of crosses in terms of δ13C was generally maintained over watering treatments and there was not a significant genetic versus environmental interaction. There was a positive correlation between δ13C and both intrinsic and long-term WUE (more positive δ13C with increased WUE) and between δ13C and productivity, suggesting a correlation due to variation in photosynthetic capacity. Root to shoot ratios did not increase in water-stressed plants, indicating that responses to drought were primarily at the level of gas exchange, rather than through morphological changes. Our results indicate that it should be possible to use δ13C as a surrogate for WUE and to select white spruce genotypes for high WUE without compromising yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical impedance measurements made on white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, stems were related to shoot free sugar contents and to osmotic, turgor and water potential. During seasonal dormancy induction, there were commensurate increases in free sugar contents, osmotic potential at full turgor and impedance which resulted in linear relationships among these variables. When measured over the course of laboratory drying, impedance increased curvilinearly with decreasing relative water content. There was a linear increase in impedance with decreasing water potential, with a break point coincident with the turgor loss point, possibly attributed to disruption to current flow through broken plasmodesmatal connections between adjacent cells. This technique offers a non-destructive method to measure tissue free sugar content, and therefore, short- and long-term shifts in parameters historically derived from pressure-volume analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil flooding causes rapid reductions in transpiration, stomatal conductance and photosynthesis of many woody plants, which can decrease growth and ultimately result in plant death. This study was conducted to determine the role of the root system in the flooding response. Eastern larch (Larix laricina) seedlings were grown in Plexiglas tubes in which water uptake by flooded and unflooded roots was measured independently. Further flooding studies were conducted with eastern larch and white spruce (Picea glauca) in which stems were girdled. Root hydraulic properties were analyzed using pressure-flow relationships. Transpiration rates of partially flooded plants declined more slowly than fully-flooded plants. Water uptake by unflooded roots of partially flooded seedlings increased momentarily with flooding. After 10d, flooding caused little change in root hydraulic conductance, a decrease in root system reflection coefficient, and an increase in osmotic permeability. Stem girdling had little effect on stomatal conductance and transpiration in comparison to flooding effects. The response of plant tops to flooding appears to be xylem-mediated and in proportion to the amount of root system flooded. Root hydraulic conductance appears to be unaffected by flooding except for a possible temporary increase on the first day following flooding treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wide variations in total aluminum (Al) concentration reported to have a toxic effect on plants are attributed to imprecise definition of the chemical environment at the root interface. Because Al can complex with natural ligands and form time-dependent metastable species in water, the requirements of a fixed Al speciation in the nutrient medium can only be met by simultancously holding constant the pH, the Al/OH ratio and the renewal time of the solution. It is also important that the root be constantly perfused by a fresh solution so that the root interface is as chemically close to the bulk solution as possible. The rhizostat presented here uses a process controller to constantly replenish four tanks containing different combinations of nutrients and Al. The solution is pumped from each tank to a tray where it is continuously delivered to seedlings growing on artificial medium. This rhizostat provides an accurate control for Al speciation. Preliminary experiments of white spruce seedlings show that levels of 10 micromolal or less total Al are sufficient to cause toxic effects at pH of 4.5 and without the formation of Al complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]