Rapid response of nonstructural carbohydrate allocation and photosynthesis to short photoperiod, low temperature, or elevated CO2 in Pinus strobus

Abstract

During autumn, decreasing photoperiod and temperature temporarily perturb the balance between carbon uptake and carbon demand in overwintering plants, requiring coordinated adjustments in photosynthesis and carbon allocation to re-establish homeostasis. Here we examined adjustments of photosynthesis and allocation of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) following a sudden shift to short photoperiod, low temperature, and/or elevated CO₂ in Pinus strobus seedlings. Seedlings were initially acclimated to 14 h photoperiod (22/15°C day/night) and ambient CO₂ (400 ppm) or elevated CO₂ (800 ppm). Seedlings were then shifted to 8 h photoperiod for one of three treatments: no temperature change at ambient CO₂ (22/15°C, 400 ppm), low temperature at ambient CO₂ (12/5°C, 400 ppm), or no temperature change at elevated CO₂ (22/15°C, 800 ppm). Short photoperiod caused all seedlings to exhibit partial nighttime depletion of starch. Short photoperiod alone did not affect photosynthesis. Short photoperiod combined with low temperature caused hexose accumulation and repression of photosynthesis within 24 h, followed by a transient increase in nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ). Under long photoperiod, plants grown under elevated CO₂ exhibited significantly higher NSCs and photosynthesis compared to ambient CO₂ plants, but carbon uptake exceeded sink capacity, leading to elevated NPQ; carbon sink capacity was restored and NPQ relaxed within 24 h after shift to short photoperiod. Our findings indicate that P. strobus rapidly adjusts NSC allocation, not photosynthesis, to accommodate short photoperiod. However, the combination of short photoperiod and low temperature, or long photoperiod and elevated CO₂ disrupts the balance between photosynthesis and carbon sink capacity, resulting in increased NPQ to alleviate excess energy.