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Root Chemistry of Mature Douglas-fir Differs by Habitat Type in the Interior Northwestern United States Item Info
![Carbon compound concentrations in plant tissues depend on the environment in which plants grow. However, little is known about how these concentrations vary across a range of forest environmental conditions. Our study examined root tissue (phloem, cambium, phellum, and phelloderm) collected from naturally regenerated mature Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca [Bessn.] Franco) trees in eight stands on three habitat type series encompassing a range of temperature and moisture conditions. The objective was to determine root chemical composition (sugar, starch, phenol, and tannin) differences among the habitat types. Douglas-fir roots collected from dry, warm Douglas fir habitat types had sugar concentrations of 4% compared to 3% for roots from cool, moist habitat types. Root samples collected from Douglas-fir habitat types showed tannin concentrations about double those from grand fir or western redcedar habitat types. Phenol/tannin ratios for the cool, moist habitat types were about double those from warm, dry Douglas-fir habitat types. Roots sampled from western redcedar habitat types had phenol concentrations and phenol/sugar ratios more than 50% higher than those from Douglas-fir and grand fir habitat types. We speculate that root chemistry of Douglas-fir growing on Douglas-fir habitat types could make them more drought resistant but less disease resistant, while Douglas-fir growing on western redcedar types would be less drought resistant but more disease resistant. Douglas-fir growing on warm, dry sites allocated more carbon to tannin production and less to phenols.](https://objects.lib.uidaho.edu/iftnc/small/iftnc4828_sm.jpg)
- Title:
- Root Chemistry of Mature Douglas-fir Differs by Habitat Type in the Interior Northwestern United States
- Creator:
- Moore, J.A.; Mika, P.G.; Shaw, T.M.
- Date Created (ISO Standard):
- 2000-03-29
- Description:
- Carbon compound concentrations in plant tissues depend on the environment in which plants grow. However, little is known about how these concentrations vary across a range of forest environmental conditions. Our study examined root tissue (phloem, cambium, phellum, and phelloderm) collected from naturally regenerated mature Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca [Bessn.] Franco) trees in eight stands on three habitat type series encompassing a range of temperature and moisture conditions. The objective was to determine root chemical composition (sugar, starch, phenol, and tannin) differences among the habitat types. Douglas-fir roots collected from dry, warm Douglas fir habitat types had sugar concentrations of 4% compared to 3% for roots from cool, moist habitat types. Root samples collected from Douglas-fir habitat types showed tannin concentrations about double those from grand fir or western redcedar habitat types. Phenol/tannin ratios for the cool, moist habitat types were about double those from warm, dry Douglas-fir habitat types. Roots sampled from western redcedar habitat types had phenol concentrations and phenol/sugar ratios more than 50% higher than those from Douglas-fir and grand fir habitat types. We speculate that root chemistry of Douglas-fir growing on Douglas-fir habitat types could make them more drought resistant but less disease resistant, while Douglas-fir growing on western redcedar types would be less drought resistant but more disease resistant. Douglas-fir growing on warm, dry sites allocated more carbon to tannin production and less to phenols.
- Subjects:
- research roots (plant components) trees statistics
- Location:
- North and Central Idaho Eastern Washington Western Montana Northeastern Oregon
- Source:
- Moore, J.A., P.G. Mika and T.M. Shaw. 2000. Root Chemistry of Mature Douglas-fir Differs by Habitat Type in the Interior Northwestern United States. Forest Science. 46(4): 531-536.
- Source Identifier:
- Root_Chemistry_of_Mature_Douglas-fir_Differs_by_Habitat_Type_Interior_NW_FS_046_004_2000
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
Source
- Preferred Citation:
- "Root Chemistry of Mature Douglas-fir Differs by Habitat Type in the Interior Northwestern United States", Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/iftnc/items/iftnc4828.html