Internal physiological drivers of leaf development in trees: Understanding the relationship between non‐structural carbohydrates and leaf phenology

作者：Yunpeng Luo, Constantin M. Zohner, Thomas W. Crowther, Jianlan Feng, Günter Hoch, Peng Li, Andrew D. Richardson, Yann Vitasse, Arthur Geßler · 发表于：Functional Ecology · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1111/1365-2435.14694 · 被引用次数：22 · 研究领域：Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics、Horticultural and Viticultural Research、Leaf Properties and Growth Measurement

Abstract Plant phenology is crucial for understanding plant growth and climate feedback. It affects canopy structure, surface albedo, and carbon and water fluxes. While the influence of environmental factors on phenology is well‐documented, the role of plant intrinsic factors, particularly internal physiological processes and their interaction with external conditions, has received less attention. Non‐structural carbohydrates (NSC), which include sugars and starch essential for growth, metabolism and osmotic regulation, serve as indicators of carbon availability in plants. NSC levels reflect the carbon balance between photosynthesis (source activity) and the demands of growth and respiration (sink activity), making them key physiological traits that potentially influence phenology during critical periods such as spring leaf‐out and autumn leaf senescence. However, the connections between NSC concentrations in various organs and phenological events are poorly understood. This review synthesizes current research on the relationship between leaf phenology and NSC dynamics. We qualitatively delineate seasonal NSC variations in deciduous and evergreen trees and propose testable hypotheses about how NSC may interact with phenological stages such as bud break and leaf senescence. We also discuss how seasonal variations in NSC levels, align with existing conceptual models of carbon allocation. Accurate characterization and simulation of NSC dynamics are crucial and should be incorpor...