Two dominant boreal conifers use contrasting mechanisms to reactivate photosynthesis in the spring

Abstract

Boreal forests are dominated by evergreen conifers that show strongly regulated seasonal photosynthetic activity. Understanding the mechanisms behind seasonal modulation of photosynthesis is crucial for predicting how these forests will respond to changes in seasonal patterns and how this will affect their role in the terrestrial carbon cycle. We demonstrate that the two co-occurring dominant boreal conifers, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies), use contrasting mechanisms to reactivate photosynthesis in the spring. Scots pine downregulates its capacity for CO2 assimilation during winter and activates alternative electron sinks through accumulation of PGR5 and PGRL1 during early spring until the capacity for CO2 assimilation is recovered. In contrast, Norway spruce lacks this ability to actively switch between different electron sinks over the year and as a consequence suffers severe photooxidative damage during the critical spring period.

Published in

Nature Communications
2020, volume: 11, number: 1, article number: 128
Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

SLU Authors

• Hurry, Vaughan

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science
Botany

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13954-0

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/104560