Table 3. Concentration ratios of total soluble sugars to starch (RSS) in tissues of Quercus aquifolioides shrubs grown at elevations of 3000 m, 3500 m, and 3950 m a.s.l. (the elevational limit) during the growing season (May–September) and the dormant season (October–April).

Season	Growing season (May–September)					Dormant season (October–April)
Elevation (m a.s.l.)	3000	3500		3950		3000	3500		3950
Ratio & increment	Ratio	Ratio	+%	Ratio	+%	Ratio	Ratio	+%	Ratio	+%
Current-year leaves	1.21	1.19	−1.9	1.43	18.2	3.03	3.56	17.3	4.20	38.4
Previous-year leaves	1.33	1.64	23.0	1.75	31.3	4.04	4.55	12.5	5.17	27.9
Current-year branches	1.23	1.61	31.5	2.02	64.4	5.81	5.84	0.6	6.31	8.6
One-yr-old branches	1.12	1.44	28.3	1.57	39.5	3.09	4.66	50.9	5.02	62.7
Previous-year branches	1.14	1.30	13.8	1.45	27.2	2.81	3.43	22.0	4.24	50.8
Stem wood	1.12	1.31	17.3	1.50	34.0	2.29	2.98	30.0	3.20	39.6
Taproots	1.01	1.26	24.2	1.39	36.9	1.42	1.76	24.0	2.03	42.5
Coarse roots	0.89	1.05	17.7	1.20	34.1	1.29	1.59	23.2	1.80	39.6
Medium roots	1.30	1.39	7.3	1.88	45.1	1.85	1.94	4.6	2.41	30.0
Fine roots	1.09	1.19	9.6	1.40	28.9	2.12	2.20	3.6	2.86	34.4
Mean sugar-starch ratio	1.14	1.34	17.1	1.56	36.0	2.78	3.25	18.9	3.72	37.5
Sugar contribution to NSC (%)	53.3	57.3	7.0	60.9	14.3	73.5	76.5	4.1	78.8	7.2

Note (1) Increment (%) was defined as the increment percent of ratio at higher elevation compared to that at 3000 m a.s.l., and (2) ratios were calculated using data shown in Figure 2.