Photosynthate allocations patterns and mode of postfire reproduction in two shrub species from the California chaparral

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6533629

Sparks, S R

Age-specific patterns of photosynthate allocation in leaves were investigated for two chaparral shrubs, Adenostoma fasciculatum and Ceanothus greggii, in five stands of various ages. Branches of shrubs were labeled with {sup 14}CO{sub 2}, and seasonal allocation of {sup 14}C-labeled photosynthate to storage, defense, metabolic, and structural compounds was followed. Age-specific allocation patterns were found only in the spring, when older shrubs showed a reduced allocation of photosynthate within leaves to storage compounds. Older shrubs may be less able than younger shrubs to allocate photosynthate to storage compounds when demands on photosynthate for growth are high. The influence of senescence on postfire sprouting was investigated by quantifying the proportion of standing dead biomass in A. fasciculatum, as well as other shrub structural characteristics, before an experimental burn. After the burn, sprout production during the first postfire season was determined and correlated with prefire structural characteristics. Photosynthate allocation to shoots and roots was investigated for seedlings of both species.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Davis, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6533629
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CALIFORNIA
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
FEDERAL REGION IX
FIRES
GROWTH
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
REPRODUCTION
SEEDLINGS
SHRUBS
SPROUTING
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
USA