Global estimate of net annual carbon flow to phenylpropanoid metabolism

Conference · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Plant Physiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:6251575

Walton, A B; Norman, E G; Turpin, D H ^[1]

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1. Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver (Canada)

The steady increase in the concentration of CO[sub 2] in the atmosphere is the focus of renewed interest in the global carbon cycle. Current research is centered upon modeling the effects of the increasing CO[sub 2] concentrations, and thus global warning, on global plant homeostasis. It has been estimated that the annual net primary production (NPP) values for terrestrial and oceanic biomes are 59.9 and 35 Pg C-yr[sup [minus]1], respectively (Melillo et al., 1990). Based on these NPP values, we have estimated the annual C flow to phenlpropanoid metabolism. In our calculation, lignin was used as a surrogate for phenylpropanoid compounds, as lignin is the second most abundant plant polymer. This approach means that our estimate defines the lower limit of C flow to phenylpropanoid metabolism. Each biome was considered separately to determine the percent of the NPP which was directed to the biosynthesis of leaves, stems/branches, and roots. From published values of the lignin content of these organs, the total amount of C directed to the biosynthesis of lignin in each biome was determined. This was used to obtain a global value. Implications of these estimates will be discussed with reference to plant carbon and nitrogen metabolism.

• OSTI ID: 6251575
• Report Number(s): CONF-9307119--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Plant Physiology; (United States) Journal Volume: 102:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON CYCLE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
HOMEOSTASIS
LIGNIN
METABOLISM
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
PRODUCTIVITY
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS