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Climate Influences The Content And Chemical Composition Of Foliar Tannins In Green And Senesced Tissues Of Quercus Rubra, Sara M. Top, Caroline M. Preston, Jeffrey S. Dukes, Nishanth Tharayil

Open Access Publishing Fund

Environmental stresses not only influence production of plant metabolites but could also modify their resorption during leaf senescence. The production-resorption dynamics of polyphenolic tannins, a class of defense compound whose ecological role extends beyond tissue senescence, could amplify the influence of climate on ecosystem processes. We studied the quantity, chemical composition, and tissue-association of tannins in green and freshly-senesced leaves of Quercus rubra exposed to different temperature (Warming and No Warming) and precipitation treatments (Dry, Ambient, Wet) at the Boston-Area Climate Experiment (BACE) in Massachusetts, USA. Climate influenced not only the quantity of tannins, but also …