Researchers report results of two field trials of poplars in Arizona and Oregon suggesting that suppression of production of isoprene, a compound thought to be required for protection from climate stress but deleterious to air quality, did not significantly affect photosynthesis and woody biomass production, a result that may be explained by the production of compensatory protective compounds and the fact that the highest biomass production occurs under nonstressful conditions; the findings suggest that isoprene emissions can be diminished without affecting biomass production in temperate forest plantations.
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Article # 19-12327: "High productivity in hybrid-poplar plantations without isoprene emission to the atmosphere," by Russell K. Monson et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Russell K. Monson, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; tel: 303-817-4296; e-mail: < russmonson@email.arizona.edu >
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences