COS 195-2 - Comparisons of Morphological, Physiological, and Biochemical Traits of Abies koreana Stands as a function of the Stand Mortality

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

1:45 PM – 2:00 PM PDT

Location: D139

Presenting Author(s)

CP

Chanoh Park

Seoul National University, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea

Coauthor(s)

JH

Jeonghyun Hong

Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
ML

Minsu Lee

Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
HL

Hojin Lee

Seoul National University, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
WH

Woojin Huh

Seoul National University, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
SK

Seohyun Kim

Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
JJ

Jihyeon Jeon

Seoul National University, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
KK

Kunhyo Kim

Seoul National University
Seoul, Republic of Korea
WS

Wookyung Song

Seoul National University, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
SK

Sukyung Kim

Ph.D student
Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
SB

Siyeon Byeon

Seoul National University, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
UC

Umashankar Chandrasekaran

Seoul National University, Tamil Nadu, India
NO

Neung-Hwan Oh

Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
HC

Haegeun Chung

Konkuk University, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
HC

Hyeyeong Choe, Ph.D

Assistant Professor
Seoul National Universtiy, Republic of Korea
HK

Hyun Seok Kim

Professor
Seoul National University, Republic of Korea

Abstract: Drought-induced tree mortality under climate change is a global phenomenon. Massive decline of Korea’s native endangered species Korean fir has been occurring since the 1980s. However, the reason of decline is still unknown due to a lack of in-situ data. The goal of this study is to identify the causes and mechanisms of Korean fir death by identifying morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties that can resolve whether it was hydraulic failure or carbon starvation. Nine research plots were installed in Mt. Jiri, which were divided into ‘high’, ‘middle’, and ‘low’ depending on stand mortality level. The stem growth, shoot and leaf size, and leaf mass per area (LMA, g cm^-2) were analyzed as morphological characteristics. In addition, physiological and biochemical traits such as leaf chlorophyll content, total nitrogen content, carbon isotope ratio, nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC, %), and visualization of xylem were conducted. The radial stem growth, shoot and leaf length were significantly greater in low mortality stand, but LMA and carbon isotope ratio were significantly higher in high mortality stand. Seasonal NSC contents in leaves had similar seasonal trends regardless of the mortality level of stands. On the other hand, stem NSC contents were lower in high mortality stand in winter (p < 0.001) and early spring (p = 0.01) and root NSC contents were lower from April (p = 0.004) to July (p < 0.001). However, there was no evidence of hydraulic failure when non-cavitated sapwood areas were compared. Our study suggests the massive decline of Korean fir was caused by carbon starvation rather than hydraulic failure.