Abstract
Small diameter (<1.0-mm) Acer saccharum Marsh roots were separated into white, brown and woody development state classes and analyzed for total N and C concentrations in April, July and October of 1988. White roots had greater concentrations of N and C than either brown or woody roots at each sampling date, and the N concentration of brown roots was consistently greater than that of woody roots. There were no temporal changes in N concentrations in any of the roots. C was slightly elevated in mid-summer in all three classes of roots. The data suggest the possible existence of an N translocation mechanism in ageing and developing fine roots. More research should be undertaken to establish the mechanisms of N loss in developing fine roots.
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Goldfarb, D., Hendrick, R. & Pregitzer, K. Seasonal nitrogen and carbon concentrations in white, brown and woody fine roots of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh). Plant Soil 126, 144–148 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00041381
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00041381