Constraining parameter uncertainty for predicting oxygen and hydrogen isotope values in fruit

Area of Science:

• Plant Physiology
• Stable Isotope Ecology
• Forensic Science

Background:

• Stable isotope (δ18O and δ2H) analysis is crucial for understanding plant physiology, ecology, and forensic applications.
• Predictive modeling of these isotopes in fruits is limited by a lack of empirical data and parameterizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally determine organ-specific model parameter values for predicting δ18O and δ2H in strawberry and raspberry leaves and berries.
• To validate existing stable isotope models using these new parameters under varying relative humidity conditions.

Main Methods:

• Experimental growth of strawberry and raspberry plants under controlled relative humidity levels.
• Measurement of δ18O and δ2H values in leaf and berry tissues and water pools.
• Evaluation and quantification of organ-specific model parameters for stable isotope modeling.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in δ18O and δ2H values were observed between leaf and berry tissues, consistent across humidity treatments.
• Existing isotope models can simulate leaf and berry isotope values but require organ-specific parameterization.
• Quantified organ-specific model parameters for strawberry and raspberry, facilitating improved model accuracy.

Conclusions:

• Accurate stable isotope modeling of fruit requires organ-specific parameters, accounting for differences between leaves and fruits.
• The quantified parameters enable more precise applications of stable isotope models in plant science, ecology, and forensic studies.
• Species- and environment-specific parameters may be necessary depending on the desired model accuracy.