Premium
Calcium nutrition has a significant influence on wood formation in poplar
Author(s) -
Lautner Silke,
Ehlting Barbara,
Windeisen Elisabeth,
Rennenberg Heinz,
Matyssek Rainer,
Fromm Jörg
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.01972.x
Subject(s) - calcium , xylem , cambium , bark (sound) , phloem , chemistry , elongation , lignin , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , botany , nutrient , sugar , horticulture , food science , ultimate tensile strength , organic chemistry , materials science , biology , chemical engineering , ecology , engineering , metallurgy
Summary• To test the effects of calcium on wood formation, Populus tremula × Populus tremuloides clones were supplied with Hoagland solution modified in its calcium contents. Energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDXA) revealed an increase in calcium in the phloem, the cambium and the xylem elongation zone with increasing Ca 2+ supply in the nutrient solution. • Using light and electron microscopy, a strong impact was shown on the cambial and the elongation zones under calcium starvation. • Using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy on wood and bark cells formed under calcium starvation, we detected a reduction of some absorptions, such as carbonyl and methoxy groups from S‐lignin. Also, a significant reduction in fiber length was detected with decreasing calcium supply in the nutrient solution. High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed a large increase in sugar concentrations in the leaves, but reduced concentrations in the bark under Ca 2+ deficiency. • In conclusion, our results show a significant influence of calcium on the structure, chemistry and physiology of wood formation. Thus, efficient Ca 2+ supply has to be considered a decisive factor in wood formation.