Water‐soluble carbohydrates in Patzkea paniculata (L.): a plant strategy to tolerate snowpack reduction and spring drought in subalpine grasslands
Résumé
In subalpine grasslands of the central French Alps, cessation of traditional mowing promotes dominance of Patzkea paniculata (L.) G.H.Loos (Poaceae) tussocks, with high biomass but low fodder quality. Mowing limits P. paniculata abundance through the depletion of its water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) reserves, which sustain early spring growth initiation. However, the effectiveness of mowing effects is modulated by grassland functional composition, fertilization and climate change, as WSC compounds, and notably fructans, support plant physiological responses to climate stresses such as drought or frost.
Auteurs, date et publication :
Auteurs L. Bernard , M.‐L. Decau , A. Morvan‐Bertrand , S. Lavorel , J.‐C. Clément , F. Loreto
Publication : Plant Biology
Date : 2020
Pages : plb.13081