CARBOHYDRATE, WATER AND NITROGEN STORAGE IN VINES OF A TROPICAL DECIDUOUS FOREST

Between the mid dry season and the early wet season nine vine species representing diverse root-, stem-, and leaf-habits and phenological patterns, showed more differences among plant parts in their contents of non-structural carbohydrate, water, and nitrogen, than within the parts. Most seasonal changes occurred in distal stems, while none occurred in roots. Carbohydrates differed least between seasons, despite reserves of 3-15 percent in stems and up to 50 percent in roots.