CHANGES IN SULFUR METABOLISM DURING NEEDLE DEVELOPMENT OF NORWAY SPRUCE

In a field-study with approx. 150-year-old spruce trees, seasonal changes in thiol composition and content, sulfate content, and extractable activities of enzymes of sulfate reduction and assimilation were analyzed in needles and buds and were related to developmental processes during flushing. GSH was the predominant thiol in spruce needles throughout the year, with maximum contents of more than 400 nmol g FW-1 during winter and minimum contents of less than 200 nmol g FW-1 during summer. Negative correlation of changes in GSH contents during winter and spring with air temperature showed a low correlation coefficient (r = - 0.55), suggesting minor significance of GSH in frost protection. Drastic changes in thiol contents during flushing suggested that GSH accumulated in the previous year's needles during winter supports the growing needles with reduced sulfur. Sulfate and other substrates for sulfate assimilation appeared to be available in buds and the new needles. An external supply with reduced sulfur may still be required because of insufficient activities of enzymes of sulfate reduction and assimilation, esp. ATP-sulfurylase and APS-sulfotransferase.