Nonstructural carbon in woody plants.

Area of Science:

• Plant Physiology
• Ecology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Nonstructural carbon (NSC) is vital for plant growth, survival, and energy.
• Key questions persist regarding NSC storage, accessibility of older reserves, and links to mortality risk in woody plants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review conceptual and mathematical models of NSC dynamics.
• To synthesize recent observations and experiments on NSC at the organismal scale.
• To integrate advances in plant physiology for a comprehensive understanding of woody plant NSC dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on NSC dynamics.
• Analysis of conceptual and mathematical models.
• Synthesis of experimental data from organismal-scale studies.
• Integration of findings from plant physiology research.

Main Results:

• Plants prioritize recent carbon but can utilize decade-old NSC reserves under stress or damage.
• NSC serves critical roles beyond energy, including phloem transport, osmoregulation, and cold tolerance.
• Mechanisms regulating competing NSC roles and depletion remain largely unclear.

Conclusions:

• Further research needs to integrate models and data across multiple scales (from -omics to ecology).
• A deeper understanding of NSC regulation is essential for predicting plant resilience and survival.
• Bridging the gap between different research scales is critical for advancing NSC dynamics knowledge.