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Temporal variation in leaf nitrogen partitioning of a broad-leaved evergreen tree, Quercus myrsinaefolia

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Abstract

We examined temporal changes in the amount of nitrogenous compounds in leaves from the outer and inner parts of the crown of Quercus myrsinaefolia growing in a seasonal climate. Throughout the leaf life span, metabolic protein and Rubisco content closely correlated with total nitrogen content, while structural protein content was relatively stable after full leaf expansion. Chlorophyll content was affected by shading as well as total nitrogen content in outer leaves that were overtopped by new shoots in the second year. Outer leaves showed a large seasonal variation in photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE; the light-saturated photosynthetic rate per unit leaf nitrogen content) during the first year of their life, with PNUE decreasing from the peak in summer towards winter. Outer and inner leaves both showed age-related decline in PNUE in the second year. There were no such drastic changes in leaf nitrogen partitioning that could explain seasonal and yearly variations in PNUE. Nitrogen resorption occurred in overwintering leaves in spring. Metabolic protein explained the majority of nitrogen being resorbed, whereas structural protein, which was low in degradability, contributed little to nitrogen resorption.

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Acknowledgments

We thank H. Harayama and K. Sakai for their help in the field, and K. Hikosaka for providing purified Rubisco. This study was supported by “Research Fellowships of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for Young Scientists” to Y.Y.

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  1. Department of Plant Ecology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan

    Yuko Yasumura & Atsushi Ishida

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  1. Yuko Yasumura
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  2. Atsushi Ishida
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Correspondence to Yuko Yasumura.

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Yasumura, Y., Ishida, A. Temporal variation in leaf nitrogen partitioning of a broad-leaved evergreen tree, Quercus myrsinaefolia . J Plant Res 124, 115–123 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-010-0358-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-010-0358-x

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