Biogeographic implication of temperature-induced plant cell wall lignification

0559820 - BÚ 2023 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Crivellaro, A. - Piermattei, A. - Doležal, Jiří - Dupree, P. - Büntgen, Ulf
Biogeographic implication of temperature-induced plant cell wall lignification.
Communications Biology. Roč. 5, č. 1 (2022), č. článku 767. E-ISSN 2399-3642
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LTAUSA18007; GA ČR(CZ) GA21-26883S; GA MŠMT(CZ) EF16_019/0000797
Research Infrastructure: CzeCOS III - 90123
Institutional support: RVO:67985939 ; RVO:86652079
Keywords : lignification * global pattern * plants
OECD category: Ecology; Ecology (UEK-B)
Impact factor: 5.9, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03732-y

More than 200 years after von Humboldt’s pioneering work on the treeline, our understanding of the cold distribution limit of upright plant growth is still incomplete. Here, we use wood anatomical techniques to estimate the degree of stem cell wall lignification in 1770 plant species from six continents. Contrary to the frequent belief that small plants are less lignified, we show that cell wall lignification in ‘woody’ herbs varies considerably. Although trees and shrubs always exhibit lignified cell walls in their upright stems, small plants above the treeline may contain less lignin. Our findings suggest that extremely cold growing season temperatures can reduce the ability of plants to lignify their secondary cell walls. Corroborating experimental and observational evidence, this study proposes to revisit existing theories about the thermal distribution limit of upright plant growth and to consider biochemical and biomechanical factors for explaining the global treeline position.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0334520