Perennation in woody fruit plants and its relationship to carbohydrate turnover

SUMMARY Carbohydrates constitute the principal reserves in temperate woody fruit plants and are depleted during winter, particularly around the time of bud‐break before new growth makes good the losses. Movement of reserves between underground and aerial parts occurs during winter. All perennial parts show alternate depletion and replenishment but root extremities may undergo irreversible depletion and die. Interconversions between soluble carbohydrates and polysaccharides indicate a balance between degradation and synthesis. High growth potential is associated with high starch/starch + sugar ratio.