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The Fate Of Xylem-Transported Co2 In Plants, Samantha S. Stutz, David T. Hanson

Biology ETDs

The concentration of carbon dioxide in tree stems can be ~30-750 times higher than current atmospheric [CO₂]. Dissolved inorganic carbon enters the xylem from root and stem respiration and travels with water through the plant. However, the fate of much of this xylem-transported CO₂ is unknown. In these studies I examined the fate of xylem-transported CO₂ traveling through the petiole and leaf. This was accomplished by placing cut leaves from a woody and herbaceous C₃ species, and a Kranz-type C₄ species, in a solution of dissolved NaH¹³CO₃ at concentrations similar to …