Distribution of Food Reserves in Snowberry (Symphoricarpus oreophilus)

Abstract

A study was conducted in northern Utah in 1974 to determine the distribution of nonstructural carbohydrates (NC) and lipids in snowberry (Symphoricarpus oreophilus). Snowberry biomass was sampled and partitioned into small roots, large roots, root crowns, old stems, new stems, and leaves, which were analyzed for NC and lipids. The results showed a generally larger pool of NC in stems than in belowground biomass. Lipids in snowberry remained relatively stable throughout the growing season and included relatively small amounts of those lipids most likely to enter metabolism. Thus, lipids apparently do not contribute significantly to the carbon reserve pool.