Non-structural carbohydrates mediate seasonal water stress across Amazon forests

Caroline Signori-Müller (), Rafael S. Oliveira, Fernanda de Vasconcellos Barros, Julia Valentim Tavares, Martin Gilpin, Francisco Carvalho Diniz, Manuel J. Marca Zevallos, Carlos A. Salas Yupayccana, Martin Acosta, Jean Bacca, Rudi S. Cruz Chino, Gina M. Aramayo Cuellar, Edwin R. M. Cumapa, Franklin Martinez, Flor M. Pérez Mullisaca, Alex Nina, Jesus M. Bañon Sanchez, Leticia Fernandes Silva, Ligia Tello, José Sanchez Tintaya, Maira T. Martinez Ugarteche, Timothy R. Baker, Paulo R. L. Bittencourt, Laura S. Borma, Mauro Brum, Wendeson Castro, Eurídice N. Honorio Coronado, Eric G. Cosio, Ted R. Feldpausch, Letícia d’Agosto Miguel Fonseca, Emanuel Gloor, Gerardo Flores Llampazo, Yadvinder Malhi, Abel Monteagudo Mendoza, Victor Chama Moscoso, Alejandro Araujo-Murakami, Oliver L. Phillips, Norma Salinas, Marcos Silveira, Joey Talbot, Rodolfo Vasquez, Maurizio Mencuccini and David Galbraith
Additional contact information
Caroline Signori-Müller: University of Campinas
Rafael S. Oliveira: Institute of Biology, University of Campinas
Fernanda de Vasconcellos Barros: University of Exeter
Julia Valentim Tavares: University of Leeds
Martin Gilpin: University of Leeds
Francisco Carvalho Diniz: University of Leeds
Manuel J. Marca Zevallos: Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco
Carlos A. Salas Yupayccana: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Martin Acosta: Universidade Federal do Acre
Jean Bacca: Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco
Rudi S. Cruz Chino: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Gina M. Aramayo Cuellar: Universidad Autonoma Gabriel Rene Moreno
Edwin R. M. Cumapa: Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco
Franklin Martinez: Universidad Autonoma Gabriel Rene Moreno
Flor M. Pérez Mullisaca: Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco
Alex Nina: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Jesus M. Bañon Sanchez: Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco
Leticia Fernandes Silva: Universidade Federal do Acre
Ligia Tello: Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco
José Sanchez Tintaya: Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco
Maira T. Martinez Ugarteche: Universidad Autonoma Gabriel Rene Moreno
Timothy R. Baker: University of Leeds
Paulo R. L. Bittencourt: University of Exeter
Laura S. Borma: National Institute for Space Research
Mauro Brum: University of Campinas
Wendeson Castro: Universidade Federal do Acre
Eurídice N. Honorio Coronado: Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonia Peruana
Eric G. Cosio: Sección Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Ted R. Feldpausch: University of Exeter
Letícia d’Agosto Miguel Fonseca: National Institute for Space Research
Emanuel Gloor: University of Leeds
Gerardo Flores Llampazo: Universidad Nacional Jorge Basadre de Grohmann
Yadvinder Malhi: University of Oxford
Abel Monteagudo Mendoza: Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco
Victor Chama Moscoso: Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco
Alejandro Araujo-Murakami: Universidad Autonoma Gabriel Rene Moreno
Oliver L. Phillips: University of Leeds
Norma Salinas: Sección Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Marcos Silveira: Universidade Federal do Acre
Joey Talbot: Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds
Rodolfo Vasquez: Jardín Botánico de Missouri
Maurizio Mencuccini: CREAF, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona
David Galbraith: University of Leeds

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are major substrates for plant metabolism and have been implicated in mediating drought-induced tree mortality. Despite their significance, NSC dynamics in tropical forests remain little studied. We present leaf and branch NSC data for 82 Amazon canopy tree species in six sites spanning a broad precipitation gradient. During the wet season, total NSC (NSCT) concentrations in both organs were remarkably similar across communities. However, NSCT and its soluble sugar (SS) and starch components varied much more across sites during the dry season. Notably, the proportion of leaf NSCT in the form of SS (SS:NSCT) increased greatly in the dry season in almost all species in the driest sites, implying an important role of SS in mediating water stress in these sites. This adjustment of leaf NSC balance was not observed in tree species less-adapted to water deficit, even under exceptionally dry conditions. Thus, leaf carbon metabolism may help to explain floristic sorting across water availability gradients in Amazonia and enable better prediction of forest responses to future climate change.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22378-8

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