Girdling Affects Carbohydrate‐related Gene Expression in Leaves, Bark and Roots of Alternate‐bearing Citrus Trees

Girdling and sugar signalling affect starch synthesis genes in biennially bearing citrus

Li et al. (pp. 137-143) show that carbohydrate accumulates in leaves and shoots above a stem girdle in citrus trees during their fruitless, �off� year but not during their fruiting �on� year. Girdling is also shown to decrease markedly carbohydrate concentrations in roots. Expression of starch biosynthesis-related genes is high in starch-accumulating organs and low in roots with declining starch concentrations.