© 2007 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
Seasonal patterns of cytokinins and microclimate and the mediation of gas exchange among canopy layers of mature Acer saccharum trees
Ian Reeves (1) and R. J. Neil Emery (1, 2)
1. Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 7B8, Canada / 2. Corresponding author (nemery@trentu.ca) / Received November 28, 2006; accepted February 9, 2007; published online August 1, 2007
Summary
Seasonal patterns of cytokinins (CKs) and microclimate were examined in the upper, middle and lower canopy layers of mature
Acer saccharum Marsh. (sugar maple) trees to elucidate the potential role of CKs in the mediation of gas exchange. The upper canopy showed
a distinctly dissimilar microclimate from the middle and lower canopy layers with higher photosynthetically active radiation
and wind speed, but showed no corresponding differences in transpiration (E) or stomatal conductance (gs). Although E and gs tended to be higher in the upper canopy than in the middle and lower canopies, the differences were not significant, indicating
regulation beyond the passive response to changes in microclimate. The upper canopy accumulated significantly higher concentrations
of CKs, predominantly as ribosides, and all canopy layers showed distinct seasonal patterns in CK profiles. Multiple regression
models showed significant relationships between both gs and E and foliar CK concentration, although these relationships varied among canopy layers. The relationships were strongest in
the middle and lower canopy layers where there was less fluctuation in leaf water status and less variability in abiotic variables.
The relationships between gas exchange parameters and leaf CK concentration began to decouple near the end of the growing
season as foliar phytohormone concentrations changed with the approach of dormancy.
Keywords:
stomatal conductance, sugar maple, transpiration.
