TY  - JOUR
A1  - Sachse, Dirk
A1  - Dawson, Todd E.
A1  - Kahmen, Ansgar
T1  - Seasonal variation of leaf wax n-alkane production and delta H-2 values from the evergreen oak tree, Quercus agrifolia
JF  - Isotopes in environmental and health studies
N2  - In order to understand the timing of leaf wax synthesis in higher plants, we analysed the variability in leaf wax n-alkane concentration, composition (expressed as average chain length (ACL)), and delta H-2(wax) values as well as plant source water delta H-2 values (xylem and leaf water) in the evergreen tree Quercus agrifolia over a period of 9 months, beginning with leaf flush. We identified three distinct periods of leaf development with the first month following leaf flush being characterized by de novo synthesis and possibly removal of n-alkanes. During the following 3 months, n-alkane concentrations increased sevenfold and delta H-2(wax) and ACL values increased, suggesting this period was the major leaf wax n-alkane formation period. During the remaining 4 months of the experiment, stable values suggest cessation of leaf wax n-alkane formation. We find that n-alkane synthesis in Q. agrifolia takes place over 4 months, substantially longer than that observed for deciduous trees.
KW  - leaf wax
KW  - oak tree
KW  - hydrogen-2
KW  - isotope ecology
KW  - n-alkanes
Y1  - 2015
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2015.1011636
SN  - 1025-6016
SN  - 1477-2639
VL  - 51
IS  - 1
SP  - 124
EP  - 142
PB  - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
CY  - Abingdon
ER  -