10.5061/DRYAD.J6R5K
Martinez-Vilalta, Jordi
Centre for Research on Ecology and Forestry Applications
Sala, Anna
University of Montana
Asensio, Dolores
Centre for Research on Ecology and Forestry Applications
Galiano, Lucia
University of Freiburg
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
Hoch, Guenter
University of Basel
Palacio, Sara
Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología
Piper, Frida I.
Instituto de Ecología
Lloret, Francisco
Centre for Research on Ecology and Forestry Applications
Data from: Dynamics of non-structural carbohydrates in terrestrial plants:
a global synthesis
Dryad
dataset
2016
osmoregulation
Terrestrial plants
plant carbon economy
soluble sugars
stress responses
source-sink imbalances
global synthesis
non-structural carbohydrates
seasonal dynamics
starch
Holocene
NSC
2016-08-30T13:35:26Z
2016-08-30T13:35:26Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1231
2642524 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Plants store large amounts of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). While
multiple functions of NSC have long been recognized, the interpretation of
NSC seasonal dynamics is often based on the idea that stored NSC is a
reservoir of carbon that fluctuates depending on the balance between
supply via photosynthesis and demand for growth and respiration (the
source-sink dynamics concept). Consequently, relatively high NSC
concentrations in some plants have been interpreted to reflect excess
supply relative to demand. An alternative view, however, is that NSC
accumulation reflects the relatively high NSC levels required for plant
survival; an important issue that remains highly controversial. Here, we
assembled a new global database to examine broad patterns of seasonal NSC
variation across organs (leaves, stems and belowground), plant functional
types (coniferous, drought deciduous angiosperms, winter deciduous
angiosperms, evergreen angiosperms, and herbaceous) and biomes (boreal,
temperate, Mediterranean and tropical). We compiled data from 123 studies,
including seasonal measurements for 179 species under natural conditions.
Our results showed that, on average, NSC account for ~10% of dry plant
biomass and are highest in leaves and lowest in stems, whereas belowground
organs show intermediate concentrations. Total NSC, starch and soluble
sugars (SS) varied seasonally, with a strong depletion of starch during
the growing season and a general increase during winter months,
particularly in boreal and temperate biomes. Across functional types, NSC
concentrations were highest and most variable in herbaceous species and in
conifer needles. Conifers showed the lowest stem and belowground NSC
concentrations. Minimum NSC values were relatively high (46% of seasonal
maximums on average for total NSC) and, in contrast to average values,
were similar among biomes and functional types. Overall, although starch
depletion was relatively common, seasonal depletion of total NSC or SS was
rare. These results are consistent with a dual view of NSC function:
whereas starch acts mostly as a reservoir for future use, soluble sugars
perform immediate functions (e.g., osmoregulation) and are kept above some
critical threshold. If confirmed, this dual function of NSC will have
important implications for the way we understand and model plant carbon
allocation and survival under stress.
NSCdataThis database contains seasonal non-structural carbohydrates data
(NSC; including total NSC, starch and soluble sugars) for terrestrial land
plants (global scope), and it is based on a compilation of data from the
literature. We selected only data that fulfilled the following criteria:
(1) study duration was at least four months, (2) the same individuals or
populations were measured at least three times spanning the length of the
study, (3) plants were mature, (4) measurements were taken on leaves,
stems, or belowground organs, (5) tissue was not bark, phloem or cortex,
(6) values reported were total NSC, starch/fructans or soluble sugars, and
(7) species were land plants (i.e., saltwater and freshwater species were
not included).NSCdata_sourcesThis file lists the sources of all the
individual datasets included in our final NSC database
(”NSCdata_DRYAD.csv” file).
Global