%0 Research article
%T Redistribution of 14C-labelled reserve carbon in Pinus sylvestris seedlings during shoot elongation
%A Lippu, Jukka
%D 1998
%J Silva Fennica
%V 32
%N 1
%R doi:10.14214/sf.696
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/696
%X This study examined the later use of 14C reserves formed in previous  autumn in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings. The seedlings were  allowed to photosynthesise 14CO2 in early September when shoot and  needle growth was over. The following spring the seedlings were  harvested in five samplings during the shoot growth period. The  distribution and concentration of 14C were determined and the results  were compared with the growth data. It was observed that reserves were  not used markedly for the new growth. Most of the 14C was found in  one-year-old needles (30–40%) and in the root system (40–50%) which was  due to both their high activity as a storage sink and their large sink  size. The high initial 14C-activity in the finest roots decreased  indicating respiration of reserves. Only a small percent of the reserve  carbon was found in the new shoots which indicated that reserves are of  minor importance in building a new shoot. An allocation of about 15% of  the autumn storage to the stem suggested that in seedlings the stem is  of minor importance as a storage organ.