Abstract
The [CO2] in the xylem of tree stems is typically two to three orders of magnitude greater than atmospheric [CO2]. In this study, xylem [CO2] was experimentally manipulated in saplings of sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) by allowing shoots severed from their root systems to absorb water containing [CO2] ranging from 0.04% to 14%. The effect of xylem [CO2] on CO2 efflux to the atmosphere from uninjured and mechanically injured, i.e., wounded, stems was examined. In both wounded and unwounded stems, and in both species, CO2 efflux was directly proportional to xylem [CO2], and increased 5-fold across the range of xylem [CO2] produced by the [CO2] treatment. Xylem [CO2] explained 76–77% of the variation in pre-wound efflux. After wounding, CO2 efflux increased substantially but remained directly proportional to internal stem [CO2]. These experiments substantiated our previous finding that stem CO2 efflux was directly related to internal xylem [CO2] and expanded our observations to two new species. We conclude that CO2 transported in the xylem may confound measurements of respiration based on CO2 efflux to the atmosphere. This study also provided evidence that the rapid increase in CO2 efflux observed after tissues are excised or injured is likely the result of the rapid diffusion of CO2 from the xylem, rather than an actual increase in the rate of respiration of wounded tissues.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boysen-Jensen P (1933) Respiration I stamme og grene af traer. Sven Skogsvards Tidskr 31:239–241
Burton AJ, Pregitzer KS (2002) Measurement carbon dioxide concentration does not affect root respiration of nine tree species in the field. Tree Physiol 22:67–72
Bushong FW (1907) Composition of gas from cottonwood trees. Kans Acad Sci Trans 21:53
Chase WW (1934) The composition, quantity, and physiological significance of gases in tree stems. Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin 99, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Desrochers A, Landhausser SM, Lieffers VJ (2002) Coarse and fine root respiration in aspen (Populus tremuloides). Tree Physiol 22:725–732
Eklund L (1990) Endogenous levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene in stems of Norway spruce trees during one growing season. Trees 4:150–154
Eklund L (1993) Seasonal variations of O2, CO2, and ethylene in oak and maple stems. Can J For Res 23:2608–2610
Hari P, Nygren P, Korpilahti E (1991) Internal circulation of carbon within a tree. Can J For Res 21:514–515
Jensen KF (1967) Measuring oxygen and carbon dioxide in red oak trees. U.S. Forest Service Research Note NE-74. USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station
Johansson N (1933) Om foervedade stammars andning, dess faststaellande och betydelse. Sven Skogsvards Tidskr 31:242–249
Levy PE, Jarvis PG (1998) Stem CO2 fluxes in two Sahelian shrub species (Guiera senegalensis and Combretum micranthum). Funct Ecol 12:107–116
Levy PE, Meir P, Allen SJ, Jarvis PG (1999) The effect of aqueous transport of CO2 in xylem sap on gas exchange in woody plants. Tree Physiol 19:53–58
Long SP, Hallgren J-E (1985) Measurement of CO2 assimilation by plants in the field and in the laboratory. In: Coombs J, Hall DO, Long SP, Scurlock JMO (eds) Techniques in bioproductivity and photosynthesis. Pergamon, Oxford, UK, pp 62–94
MacDougal DT, Working EB (1933) The pneumatic system of plants, especially trees. Publication 441. Carnegie Institute of Washington, Washington, D.C.
McCutchan CL, Monson RK (2001) Effects of tissue-type and development on dark respiration in two herbaceous perennials. Ann Bot 87:355–364
McGuire MA, Teskey RO (2002) Microelectrode technique for in situ measurement of carbon dioxide concentrations in xylem sap of trees. Tree Physiol 22:807–811
Oohata S, Shidei T, Tsuji H, Hatakeyama I (1967) Changes in respiratory rates of excised tree organs. Bull Kyoto Univ For 39:100–109
Rakonczay Z, Seiler JR, Kelting DL (1997) Carbon efflux rates of fine roots of three tree species decline shortly after excision. Environ Exp Bot 38:243–239
Sprugel DG, Benecke U (1991) Measuring woody tissue respiration and photosynthesis. In: Lassoie JP, Hinckley TM (eds) Techniques and approaches in forest tree ecophysiology. CRC, Boca Raton, Fla., pp 329–347
Teskey RO, McGuire MA (2002) Carbon dioxide transport in xylem causes errors in estimation of rates of respiration in stems and branches of trees. Plant Cell Environ 25:1571–1577
Uritani I, Asahi T (1980) Respiration and related metabolic activity in wounded and infected tissues. In: Stumpf PK, Conn EE (eds) The biochemistry of plants: a comprehensive treatise, vol 2. Academic, New York, pp 463–485
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Teskey, R.O., McGuire, M.A. CO2 transported in xylem sap affects CO2 efflux from Liquidambar styraciflua and Platanus occidentalis stems, and contributes to observed wound respiration phenomena. Trees 19, 357–362 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-004-0386-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-004-0386-z