Phloem sap metabolites vary according to the interactive effects of nutrient supply and seasonal conditions in Eucalyptus globulus (Labill)

Improving the efficiency of fertilizer application is paramount to both the sustainability and profitability of forest plantations. Therefore, developing reliable, cost-effective tools to assess tree nutritional status is of great interest. This investigation sought to assess the use of phloem sap-derived metabolites as an indicator of nutritional status on a background of seasonal water availability of Eucalyptus globulus (Labill) trees grown under field conditions. Phloem is a central conduit for long-distance transport and signaling in plants and offers great promise in reflecting plant-scale resource limitations. Changes in the abundance of solutes and isotopes in phloem sap are sensitive to environmental cues. With a focus on both water and nutrient availability, we characterize patterns in phloem sugars, amino acids and the abundance of carbon isotopes in phloem sap obtained from E. globulus among different seasons and fertilizer treatments. Phloem-derived total amino acid concentration was found to increase with an increasing nitrogen (N) supply; however, this response was lost with the concurrent addition of phosphorus and at the highest level of N supply. Significant seasonal variation in all measured parameters was also detected, highlighting the need for caution in making quantitative relationships with growth. Broader implications of the interactive effects of both water supply and multi-nutrient additions and relationships with growth are discussed.