Sexual reproduction of Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L. under free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) at two levels of nitrogen application

Field experiments in managed grassland have shown that the response of vegetative growth to elevated CO₂ is nitrogen‐dependent in grasses, but independent in N₂‐fixing legumes. In the present study, we tested whether this is also true for reproduction. We evaluated reproductive growth, flowering phenology, seed development, reproductive success and seed germination in the grass Lolium perenne L. and the legume Trifolium repens L., growing in monocultures in a free air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) system at ambient (35 Pa) and elevated (60 Pa) partial pressure of CO₂ and two levels of nitrogen fertilization (14 and 56 g N m^?2 a^?1). In both species, elevated CO₂ had no significant effect on sexual reproduction. In L. perenne, reproduction was mainly nitrogen‐dependent. The weak interactions between CO₂ and mineral N supply (13% more flowers and 8% more grains per spike at high N, 7% less flowers and 8% less grains at low N) were not significant. Under elevated CO₂, grain maturation was slightly enhanced and grain weight tended to decrease. No influence could be ascertained in the date of anthesis, the temporal pattern of grain growth, the rate of grain abortion and germination. Trifolium repens, grown under CO₂ enrichment at both levels of N fertilization, flowered 10 d earlier, tended to form more inflorescences per ground area and more flowers (8–12%) and seeds (>18%) per inflorescence than at ambient CO₂. The temporal pattern of seed growth was about the same in all treatments; embryo development, however, was accelerated in fumigated plants. The number of aborted seeds per pod, seed size, thousand‐seed weight and germinability did not show any influence of CO₂. Fumigated plants at high N were attacked slightly more frequently by seed‐eating weevils, which lowered the seed output per pod. In summary, the reproductive response of L. perenne and T. repens to CO₂ enrichment on the flower and inflorescence level was far weaker than expected from the results on vegetative growth.     

Increased Plant Carbon Translocation Linked to Overyielding in Grassland Species Mixtures

Plant species richness and productivity often show a positive relationship, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, especially at the plant species level. We examined how growing plants in species mixture influences intraspecific rates of short-term carbon (C-) translocation, and determined whether such short-term responses are reflected in biomass yields. We grew monocultures and mixtures of six common C3 grassland plant species in outdoor mesocosms, applied a ¹³C-CO₂ pulse in situ to trace assimilated C through plants, into the soil, and back to the atmosphere, and quantified species-specific biomass. Pulse derived ¹³C enrichment was highest in the legumes Lotus corniculatus and Trifolium repens, and relocation (i.e. transport from the leaves to other plant parts) of the recently assimilated ¹³C was most rapid in T. repens grown in 6-species mixtures. The grass Anthoxanthum odoratum also showed high levels of ¹³C enrichment in 6-species mixtures, while ¹³C enrichment was low in Lolium perenne, Plantago lanceolata and Achillea millefolium. Rates of C loss through respiration were highest in monocultures of T. repens and relatively low in species mixtures, while the proportion of ¹³C in the respired CO₂ was similar in monocultures and mixtures. The grass A. odoratum and legume T. repens were most promoted in 6-species mixtures, and together with L. corniculatus, caused the net biomass increase in 6-species mixtures. These plant species also had highest rates of ¹³C-label translocation, and for A. odoratum and T. repens this effect was greatest in plant individuals grown in species mixtures. Our study reveals that short-term plant C translocation can be accelerated in plant individuals of legume and C3 grass species when grown in mixtures, and that this is strongly positively related to overyielding. These results demonstrate a mechanistic coupling between changes in intraspecific plant carbon physiology and increased community level productivity in grassland systems.     

Effects of Temperature and CO(2) Enrichment on Carbon Translocation of Plants of the C(4) Grass Species Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. from Cool and Warm Environments

Plants of Echinochloa crus-galli from Québec and Mississippi were grown under two thermoperiods (28°C/22°C, 21°C/15°C) and two atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (350 and 675 microliters per liter) to examine possible differential responses of northern and southern populations of this C₄ grass species. Translocation was monitored using radioactive tracing with short-lived ¹¹C. CO₂ enrichment induced a decrease in the size of the export pool in plants of both populations. Other parameters did not strongly respond to elevated CO₂. Low temperature reduced translocation drastically for plants from Mississippi in normal CO₂ concentration, but this reduction was ameliorated at high CO₂. Overall, plants from Québec had a higher ¹¹C activity in leaf phloem and a higher percentage of ¹¹C exported, whereas these northern plants had lower turnover time and smaller pool size than plants from the southern population.     

CO2-enriched atmosphere and supporting material impact the growth,morphophysiology and ultrastructure of in vitro Brazilian-ginseng [Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen] plantlets

This study aimed to evaluate under photoautotrophic conditions the effect of CO₂-enriched atmosphere (360 or 1,000 μmol CO₂ mol^?1 air) combined with two substrate types (agar or Florialite^®) in vitro on plants of Pfaffia glomerata, an endangered medicinal species with promising applications in phytotherapy and phytomedicine. The effects of the treatments on the growth, stomatal density, Rubisco activity, carbon isotopic discrimination, metabolite accumulation, photosynthetic pigments and ultrastructural characteristics were investigated. After a 35-day cultivation period, the in vitro-growth of P. glomerata nodal segments under the different treatments resulted in plants with substantial differences in relation to their growth, photosynthetic pigments, stomatal density and leaf ultrastructural characteristics. The enrichment with CO₂ coupled with a porous substrate increased the growth of P. glomerata. The stomatal density in the abaxial epidermis more than doubled in response to the high CO₂ supply in both supporting types, whereas the Rubisco activity and activation state were both unresponsive to the treatments. Regardless of the CO₂ supply, the plants grown in agar displayed higher carbon isotope discrimination than their counterparts grown in Florialite^®. We propose that the long-term photosynthetic performance was improved using Florialite^® as a growth support in combination with a high CO₂ supply. No apparent signs of photosynthetic down-regulation could be found under elevated CO₂ conditions. The enrichment of in vitro atmospheres with CO₂ coupled with a porous substrate offers new possibilities for improving the growth and production on a commercial scale of high morphological and physiological quality Pfaffia plants.     

Transpiration of a 64-year old maritime pine stand in Portugal

Alpine plant species have been shown to exhibit a more pronounced increase in leaf photosynthesis under elevated CO₂ than lowland plants. In order to test whether this higher carbon fixation efficiency will translate into increased biomass production under CO₂ enrichment we exposed plots of narrow alpine grassland (Swiss Central Alps, 2470 m) to ambient (355 μl l^-1) and elevated (680 μl l^-1) CO₂ concentration using open top chambers. Part of the plost received moderate mineral nutrient additions (40 kg ha^-1 year^-1 of nitrogen in a complete fertilizer mix). Under natural nutrient supply CO₂ enrichment had no effect on biomass production per unit land area during any of the three seasons studied so far. Correspondingly, the dominant species Carex curvula and Leontodon helveticus as well as Trifolium alpinum did not show a growth response either at the population level or at the shoot level. However, the subdominant generalistic species Poa alpina strongly increased shoot growth (+47%). Annual root production (in ingrowth cores) was significantly enhanced in C. curvula in the 2nd and 3rd year of investigation (+43%) but was not altered in the bulk samples for all species. Fertilizer addition generally stimulated above-ground (+48%) and below-ground (+26%) biomass production right from the beginning. Annual variations in weather conditions during summer also strongly influenced above-ground biomass production (19–27% more biomass in warm seasons compared to cool seasons). However, neither nutrient availability nor climate had a significant effect on the CO₂ response of the plants. Our results do not support the hypothesis that alpine plants, due to their higher carbon uptake efficiency, will increase biomass production under future atmospheric CO₂ enrichment, at least not in such late successional communities. However, as indicated by the response of P. alpina, species-specific responses occur which may lead to altered community structure and perhaps ecosystem functioning in the long-term. Our findings further suggest that possible climatic changes are likely to have a greater impact on plant growth in alpine environments than the direct stimulation of photosynthesis by CO₂. Counter-intuitively, our results suggest that even under moderate climate warming or enhanced atmospheric nitrogen deposition positive biomass responses to CO₂ enrichment of the currently dominating species are unlikely.     

Modulation of carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and of nitrate reductase, in untransformed and transformed Nicotiana plumbaginifolia during CO2 enrichment of plants grown in pots and in hydroponic culture

Transformed plants of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Viv. constitutively expressing nitrate reductase (35S-NR) or β-glucuronidase (35S-GUS) and untransformed controls were grown for two weeks in a CO₂-enriched atmosphere. Whereas CO₂ enrichment (1000 μl · l⁻¹) resulted in an increase in the carbon (C) to nitrogen (N) ratio of both the tobacco lines grown in pots with vermiculite, the C/N ratio was only slightly modified when plants were grown in hydroponic culture in high CO₂ compared to those grown in air. Constitutive nitrate reductase (NR) expression per se did not change the C/N ratio of the shoots or roots. Biomass accumulation was similar in both types of plant when hydroponic or pot-grown material, grown in air or high CO₂, were compared. Shoot dry matter accumulation was primarily related to the presence of stored carbohydrate (starch and sucrose) in the leaves. In the pot-grown tobacco, growth at elevated CO₂ levels caused a concomitant decrease in the N content of the leaves involving losses in NO⁻ ₃ and amino acid levels. In contrast, the N content and composition were similar in all plants grown in hydroponic culture. The 35S-NR plants grown in air had higher foliar maximum extractable NR activities and increased glutamine levels (on a chlorophyll or protein basis) than the untransformed controls. These increases were maintained following CO₂ enrichment when the plants were grown in hydroponic culture, suggesting that an increased flux through nitrogen assimilation was possible in the 35S-NR plants. Under CO₂ enrichment the NR activation state in the leaves was similar in all plants. When the 35S-NR plants were grown in pots, however, foliar NR activity and glutamine content fell in the 35S-NR transformants to levels similar to those of the untransformed controls. The differences in NR activity between untransformed and 35S-NR leaves were much less pronounced in the hydroponic than in the pot-grown material but the difference in total extractable NR activity was more marked following CO₂ enrichment. Foliar NR message levels were decreased by CO₂ enrichment in all growth conditions but this was much more pronounced in pot-grown material than in that grown hydroponically. Since β-glucuronidase (GUS) activity and message levels in 35S-GUS plants grown under the same conditions of CO₂ enrichment (to test the effects of CO₂ enrichment on the activity of the 35S promoter) were found to be constant, we conclude that NR message turnover was specifically accelerated in the 35S-NR plants as well as in the untransformed controls as a result of CO₂ enrichment. The molecular and metabolic signals involved in increased NR message and protein turnover are not known but possible effectors include NO₃ ⁻, glutamine and asparagine. We conclude that plants grown in hydroponic culture have greater access to N than those grown in pots. Regardless of the culture method, CO₂ enrichment has a direct effect on NR mRNA stability. Received: 17 October 1996 / Accepted: 11 February 1997     

Use of sediment CO2 by submersed rooted plants

Background and Aims

Submersed plants have different strategies to overcome inorganic carbon limitation. It is generally assumed that only small rosette species (isoetids) are able to utilize the high sediment CO₂ availability. The present study examined to what extent five species of submersed freshwater plants with different morphology and growth characteristics (Lobelia dortmanna, Lilaeopsis macloviana, Ludwigia repens, Vallisneria americana and Hydrocotyle verticillata) are able to support photosynthesis supplied by uptake of CO₂ from the sediment.

Methods

Gross photosynthesis was measured in two-compartment split chambers with low inorganic carbon availability in leaf compartments and variable CO₂ availability (0 to >8 mmol L⁻¹) in root compartments. Photosynthetic rates based on root-supplied CO₂ were compared with maximum rates obtained at saturating leaf CO₂ availability, and ¹⁴C experiments were conducted for two species to localize bottlenecks for utilization of sediment CO₂.

Key Results

All species except Hydrocotyle were able to use sediment CO₂, however, with variable efficiency, and with the isoetid, Lobelia, as clearly the most effective and the elodeid, Ludwigia, as the least efficient. At a water column CO₂ concentration in equilibrium with air, Lobelia, Lilaeopsis and Vallisneria covered >75% of their CO₂ requirements by sediment uptake, and sediment CO₂ contributed substantially to photosynthesis at water CO₂ concentrations up to 1000 µmol L⁻¹. For all species except Ludwigia, the shoot to root ratio on an areal basis was the single factor best explaining variability in the importance of sediment CO₂. For Ludwigia, diffusion barriers limited uptake or transport from roots to stems and transport from stems to leaves.

Conclusions

Submersed plants other than isoetids can utilize sediment CO₂, and small and medium sized elodeids with high root to shoot area in particular may benefit substantially from uptake of sediment CO₂ in low alkaline lakes.Key words: Submersed rooted plants, CO₂ uptake, sediment CO₂, Lobelia dortmanna, Lilaeopsis macloviana, Ludwigia repens, Vallisneria americana, Hydrocotyle verticillata     

Overexpression of sucrose-phosphate synthase in tomato plants grown with CO2 enrichment leads to decreased foliar carbohydrate accumulation relative to untransformed controls

Tomato plants expressing the maize sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) cDNA under the control of the promoterof the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (rbcS) promoter were grown 5 weeks in air (450 μmol.m^–2.s^–1 irradiance, 350 ppm CO₂) and then either maintained in air or exposed to CO₂ enrichment (1 000 ppm CO₂) for 8 d. A linear relationship between the foliar sucrose to starch ratio and maximal extractable SPS activity was found both in air and high CO₂. Starch accumulation was dramatically increased in all plants subjected to CO₂ enrichment but the CO₂-dependent increase in foliar starch accumulation was much lower in the leaves of the SPS transformants than in those of the untransformed controls in the same conditions. Maximal extractable ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity was reduced by growth at high CO₂ to a similar extent in both plant types. The carbon/nitrogen ratios were similar in both plant lines in both growth conditions after 20 d exposure to high CO₂. A small (5 %) increase in carbon export capacity was observed at high CO₂ in the leaves of transformed plants compared to leaves from untransformed controls. Increased foliar SPS activity did not, however, prevent acclimation of photosynthesis in plants grown with long-term CO₂ enrichment.     

Virus-induced differences in the response of oat plants to elevated carbon dioxide

Disease is an integral element of agricultural and natural systems, but the roles pathogens play in determining ecosystem response to elevated CO₂ have rarely been examined. To investigate whether disease can alter the response of plants to CO₂, we examined the effects of doubled CO₂ (～700 μmol mol^?1) on Avena sativa infected with barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), a common pathogen of cereals and grasses. Oats infected with BYDV showed a significantly greater biomass response to CO₂ enrichment than did healthy plants. Root mass of diseased plants increased by 37–60% with CO₂ enrichment, but was largely unaffected in healthy plants. CO₂ enrichment increased midday leaf-level photosynthesis and instantaneous water use efficiency by 34 and 93% in healthy plants and by 48 and 174% in infected plants. Foliar carbohydrates increased with both CO₂ enrichment and BYDV infection, but the two factors affected individual pools dissimilarly. CO₂ enrichment may alter the epidemiology of BYDV by increasing the persistence of infected plants.     

Acclimation of Two Tomato Species to High Atmospheric CO(2): II. Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase and Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase

Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv Vedettos and Lycopersicon chmielewskii Rick, LA 1028, were exposed to two CO₂ concentrations (330 or 900 microliters per liter) for 10 weeks. The elevated CO₂ concentrations increased the initial ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity of both species for the first 5 weeks of treatment but the difference did not persist during the last 5 weeks. The activity of Mg²⁺-CO₂-activated Rubisco was higher in 900 microliters per liter for the first 2 weeks but declined sharply thereafter. After 10 weeks, leaves grown at 330 microliters per liter CO₂ had about twice the Rubisco activity compared with those grown at 900 microliters per liter CO₂. The two species showed the same trend to Rubisco declines under high CO₂ concentrations. The percent activation of Rubisco was always higher under high CO₂. The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase) activity measured in tomato leaves averaged 7.9% of the total Rubisco. PEPCase showed a similar trend with time as the initial Rubisco but with no significant difference between nonenriched and CO₂-enriched plants. Long-term exposure of tomato plants to high CO₂ was previously shown to induce a decline of photosynthetic efficiency. Based on the current study and on previous results, we propose that the decline of activated Rubisco is the main cause of the acclimation of tomato plants to high CO₂ concentrations.     

Chlorophyll a Fluorescence and Photosynthetic and Growth Responses of Pinus radiata to Phosphorus Deficiency, Drought Stress, and High CO(2)

Needles from phosphorus deficient seedlings of Pinus radiata D. Don grown for 8 weeks at either 330 or 660 microliters CO₂ per liter displayed chlorophyll a fluorescence induction kinetics characteristic of structural changes within the thylakoid chloroplast membrane, i.e. constant yield fluorescence (F_O) was increased and induced fluorescence ([F_P-F_I]/F_O) was reduced. The effect was greatest in the undroughted plants grown at 660 μl CO₂ L⁻¹. By week 22 at 330 μl CO₂ L⁻¹ acclimation to P deficiency had occurred as shown by the similarity in the fluorescence characteristics and maximum rates of photosynthesis of the needles from the two P treatments. However, acclimation did not occur in the plants grown at 660 μl CO₂ L⁻¹. The light saturated rate of photosynthesis of needles with adequate P was higher at 660 μl CO₂ L⁻¹ than at 330 μl CO₂ L⁻¹, whereas photosynthesis of P deficient plants showed no increase when grown at the higher CO₂ concentration. The average growth increase due to CO₂ enrichment was 14% in P deficient plants and 32% when P was adequate. In drought stressed plants grown at 330 μl CO₂ L⁻¹, there was a reduction in the maximal rate of quenching of fluorescence (R_Q) after the major peak. Constant yield fluorescence was unaffected but induced fluorescence was lower. These results indicate that electron flow subsequent to photosystem II was affected by drought stress. At 660 μl CO₂ L⁻¹ this response was eliminated showing that CO₂ enrichment improved the ability of the seedlings to acclimate to drought stress. The average growth increase with CO₂ enrichment was 37% in drought stressed plants and 19% in unstressed plants.     

In deep shade, elevated CO2 increases the vigor of tropical climbing plants

Climbing plants have profound influences on tropical forest dynamics and may take particular advantage from atmospheric CO₂ enrichment, thus potentially enhancing tree turnover. Here we test the effect of a four‐step CO₂‐enrichment on growth of three typical Yucatan (Mexico) climbers, across two low photon flux densities, representing typical understory situations. In pairs of two, species of Gonolobus (Asclepiadaceae), Ceratophytum (Bignoniaceae) and Thinouia (Sapindaceae) were grown on Yucatan forest soil in growth cabinets, which simulated the diurnal climate variation. Biomass increased non‐linearly in response to CO₂ enrichment from 280 (preindustrial) to 420 ppm and 560 ppm, but then (700 ppm) leveled off. The relative effect of CO₂‐enrichment between the two lower (280–420 ppm) CO₂ concentrations was 63% at low light (LL == 42 µmol m^2?2 s^2?1), compared to 37% at high light (HL = 87 µmol m^2?2 s^2?1). This overall response of species pairs was the combined effect of linear and non‐linear responses of the individual species across CO₂ treatments. Plant biomass was 61% larger in HL compared to LL. The species‐specific response depended on the neighbor, a species grew with h, irrespective of plant size. Stem length increased, but not consistently across species and light conditions. Specific stem length (SSL, length per dry mass) declined non‐linearly in all three species as CO₂ concentration increased (more pronounced at LL than at HL). SLA (leaf area per unit leaf dry mass) became lower as CO₂ concentration increased (more pronounced in HL). Enhanced vigor of climbers under elevated CO₂ as documented here may accelerate tropical forest dynamics and lead to greater abundance of early succesional tree species. This could reduce forest carbon stocking in the long run.     

Growth response of Equisetum fluviatile to elevated CO2 and temperature

In contrast to crop plants and terrestrial herbaceous plants, aquatic plants have raised only modest interest among scientists working on climate change. However, climate change studies on emergent macrophytes can be justified with their crucial role in the ecosystem functioning of aquatic habitats. Here we present the results of a three-year study on the growth response of Equisetum fluviatile, a prominent littoral species of boreal lakes, to elevated CO₂ (doubled to 600–700 ppm) and temperature (increased 2.5–3 °C). Our findings reveal that temperature effects on this species were far more distinct than the effects of CO₂, and no interactions of temperature and CO₂ were observed. Temperature increase had a positive effect on the emergence of shoots and shoot length growth as well as on the maximum length of shoots. Maximum biomass was also positively affected by temperature. The enhancing effects of temperature were carried over to the next growing season. CO₂ enrichment also affected the maximum length of shoots, but the effect was negative. In addition, some response to CO₂ in fertility was observed, but again the effect of temperature was more obvious. Exposure to CO₂ enrichment seemed to have some positive effects on the belowground biomass of E. fluviatile, although this response was not very clear. Thus, we speculate that in the future climate this species will grow faster and the littoral stands will produce more shoot biomass.     

CO2 photoassimilation and chlorophyll fluorescence in two clover species showing different response to O3

The current study evaluated photosynthetic processes in two clover species based on their performance under high O₃ conditions (150 nl l^–1 for 3 h). These species are Trifolium repens L. and Trifolium pratense L., which are well known for their different sensitivity to ozone. Ozone affected the two clover species very differently. In T. pratense, ozone induced visible symptoms of damage even though CO₂ photoassimilation, stomatal conductance and the electron transport rate were not affected. A decrease in the optimal quantum yield was observed in T. pratense immediately after the end of the period of O₃ stress but it reverted to a value similar to the control 24 h after removing the stress, indicating that non-irreversible photoinhibition had occurred. Data obtained for symptomatic T. pratense indicate that still-green living tissue of the leaf is able to carry out CO₂ assimilation; the only parameter found to be affected by O₃ was the efficiency of excitation capture. In T. repens, acute O₃ fumigation induced inhibition of photosynthetic activity, enhanced stomatal closure and increased the reduction state of the PSII primary acceptor. A possible explanation for the inhibition of photosynthesis could reside in inhibition of the Calvin cycle over-reducing PSII, thus increasing (1 – q_P) and increasing non-photochemical quenching.     

Growth response of Trifolium repens L. and Lolium perenne L. as monocultures and bi-species mixture to free air CO2 enrichment and management

Trifolium repens L. and Lolium perenne L. were grown in monocultures and bi-species mixture in a Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) experiment at elevated (60 Pa) and ambient (35 Pa) CO₂ partial pressure (pCO₂) for three years. The effects of defoliation frequencies (4 and 7 cuts in 1993; 4 and 8 cuts in 1994/95) and nitrogen fertilization (10 and 42 g m^–2 y^–1 N in 1993; 14 and 56 g m^–2 y^–1 N in 1994/95) on the growth response to pCO₂ were investigated. There were significant interspecific differences in the CO₂ responses during the first two years, while in the third growing season, these interspecific differences disappeared. Yield of T. repens in monocultures increased in the first two years by 20% when grown at elevated pCO₂. This CO₂ response was independent of defoliation frequency and nitrogen fertilization. In the third year, the CO₂ response of T. repens declined to 11%. In contrast, yield of L. perenne monocultures increased by only 7% on average over three years at elevated pCO₂. The yield response of L. perenne to CO₂ changed according to defoliation frequency and nitrogen fertilization, mainly in the second and third year. The ratio of root/yield of L. perenne increased under elevated pCO₂, low N fertilizer rate, and frequent defoliation, but it remained unchanged in T. repens. We suggest that the more abundant root growth of L. perenne was related to increased N limitation under elevated pCO₂. The consequence of these interspecific differences in the CO₂ response was a higher proportion of T. repens in the mixed swards at elevated pCO₂. This was evident in all combinations of defoliation and nitrogen treatments. However, the proportion of the species was more strongly affected by N fertilization and defoliation frequency than by elevated pCO₂. Based on these results, we conclude that the species proportion in managed grassland may change as the CO₂ concentration increases. However, an adapted management could, at least partially, counteract such CO₂ induced changes in the proportion of the species. Since the availability of mineral N in the soil may be important for the species’ responses to elevated pCO₂, more long-term studies, particularly of processes in the soil, are required to predict the entire ecosystem response.     

Autumn growth of three perennial weeds at high latitude benefits from climate change

In autumn, agricultural perennial weeds prepare for winter and can store reserves into creeping roots or rhizomes. Little is known about influence of climate change in this period. We tested the effect of simulated climate change in autumn on three widespread and noxious perennial weeds, Elymus repens (L.) Gould, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. and Sonchus arvensis L. We divided and combined simulated climate change components into elevated CO₂ concentration (525 ppm), elevated temperatures (+2–2.5°C), treatments in open‐top chambers. In addition, a control in the open‐top chamber without any increase in CO₂ and temperature, and a field control outside the chambers were included. Two geographically different origins and three pre‐growth periods prior to the exposure to climate change factors were included for each species. All species increased leaf area under elevated temperature, close to doubling in E. repens and quadrupling in the dicot species. E. repens kept leaves green later in autumn. C. arvense did not benefit in below‐ground growth from more leaf area or leaf dry mass. S. arvensis had low levels of leaf area throughout the experiment and withered earlier than the two other species. Below‐ground plant parts of S. arvensis were significantly increased by elevated temperature. Except for root:shoot ratio of C. arvense, the effects of pure elevated CO₂ were not significant for any variables compared to the open‐top chamber control. There was an additive, but no synergistic, effect of enhanced temperature and CO₂. The length of pre‐growth period was highly important for autumn plant growth, while origin had minor effect. We conclude that the small transfer of enhanced above‐ground growth into below‐ground growth under climate change in autumn does not favour creeping perennial plants per se, but more leaf area may offer more plant biomass to be tackled by chemical or physical weed control.     

Elevated CO2 and aboveground–belowground herbivory by the clover root weevil

Predicted increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations are expected to increase primary productivity in many terrestrial ecosystems, which could lead to plants becoming N limited. Studies suggest that legumes may partially overcome this by increasing biological nitrogen fixation. However, these studies have not yet considered how these changes may be affected by the altered dynamics of insect herbivores feeding on the plant. This study investigated how elevated CO₂ (700 μl l^?1) affected the clover root weevil (Sitona lepidus), a significant pest of white clover (Trifolium repens). Adults feed on leaves aboveground where they lay eggs; soil-dwelling larvae initially feed on root nodules that house N₂-fixing bacteria. Foliar C:N ratios rose by 9% at elevated CO₂, but the biggest responses were observed belowground, with increases in root mass (85% greater) and nodule abundance (220% more abundant). Root C:N ratios increased significantly from 10.95 to 11.60 under elevated CO₂, which increased even further to 13.13 when nodules were attacked by larval S. lepidus. Adult S. lepidus consumed significantly more leaf tissue at elevated CO₂ (0.47 cm² day^?1) compared with ambient CO₂ (0.35 cm² day^?1), suggesting compensatory feeding, but laid 23% fewer eggs at elevated CO₂. Even though fewer eggs were laid at elevated CO₂, 38% more larvae were recovered suggesting that larval survival was much better under elevated CO₂. Increased larval abundance and performance at elevated CO₂ were positively correlated with the number of nodules available. In conclusion, reduced foliar quality at elevated CO₂ was generally disadvantageous for adult S. lepidus living aboveground, but extremely beneficial for S. lepidus larvae living belowground, due to the enhanced nodulation. Climate change may, therefore, enhance biological nitrogen fixation by T. repens, but potential benefits (e.g. provision of N without chemical fertilizers) may be undermined by larger populations of S. lepidus larvae belowground.     

Enhanced root system C-sink activity,water relations and aspects of nutrient acquisition in mycotrophic Bouteloua gracilis subjected to CO2 enrichment

In order to better elucidate fixed-C partitioning, nutrient acquisition and water relations of prairie grasses under elevated [CO₂], we grew the C₄ grass Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) lag ex Steud. from seed in soil-packed, column-lysimeters in two growth chambers maintained at current ambient [CO₂] (350 μL L⁻¹) and twice enriched [CO₂] (700 μL L⁻¹). Once established, plants were deficit irrigated; growth chamber conditions were maintained at day/night temperatures of 25/16°C, relative humidities of 35%/90% and a 14-hour photoperiod to simulate summer conditions on the shortgrass steppe in eastern Colorado. After 11 weeks of growth, plants grown under CO₂ enrichment had produced 35% and 65% greater total and root biomass, respectively, and had twice the level of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) infection (19.8% versus 10.8%) as plants grown under current ambient [CO₂]. The CO₂-enriched plants also exhibited greater leaf water potentials and higher plant water use efficiencies. Plant N uptake was reduced by CO₂ enrichment, while P uptake appeared little influenced by CO₂ regime. Under the conditions of the experiment, CO₂ enrichment increased root biomass and VAM infection via stimulated growth and adjustments in C partitioning below-ground. The U.S. Government right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free licence in and to any copyright is acknowledged. The U.S. Government right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free licence in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

Effects of CO2 enrichment,nutrient addition,and fungal endophyte-infection on the growth of two grasses

Summary Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration is expected to increase plant productivity and alter plant/plant interactions, but little is known about its effects on symbiotic interactions with microorganisms. Interactions between perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne (a C3 plant), and purpletop grass, Tridens flavus (a C4 plant), and their clavicipitaceous fungal endophytes (Acremonium lolii and Balansia epichloe, respectively) were investigated by growing the grasses under 350 and 650 l l^– 1 CO₂ at two nutrient levels. Infected and uninfected perennial ryegrass responded with increased growth to both CO₂ enrichment and nutrient addition. Biomass and leaf area of infected and uninfected plants responded similarly to CO₂ enrichment. When growth analysis parameters were calculated, there were significant increases in relative growth rate and net assimilation rate of infected plants compared to uninfected plants, although the differences remained constant across CO₂ and nutrient treatments. Growth of purpletop grass did not increase with CO₂ enrichment or nutrient addition and there were no significant differences between infected and uninfected plants. CO₂ enrichment did not alter the interactions between these two host grasses and their endophytic-fungal symbionts.     

Effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment and root restriction on leaf gas exchange and growth of banana (Musa)

The effects of atmospheric CO₂ enrichment and root restriction on photosynthetic characteristics and growth of banana (Musa sp. AAA cv. Gros Michel) plants were investigated. Plants were grown aeroponically in root chambers in controlled environment glasshouse rooms at CO₂ concentrations of 350 or 1 000 μmol CO₂ mol^-1. At each CO₂ concentration, plants were grown in large (2001) root chambers that did not restrict root growth or in small (20 1) root chambers that restricted root growth. Plants grown at 350 μmol CO₂ mol^-1 generally had a higher carboxylation efficiency than plants grown at 1 000 μmol CO₂ mol^-1 although actual net CO₂ assimilation (A) was higher at the higher ambient CO₂ concentration due to increased intercellular CO₂ concentrations (C_i resulting from CO₂ enrichment. Thus, plants grown at 1 000 μmol CO₂ mol^-1 accumulated more leaf area and dry weight than plants grown at 350 μmol CO₂ mol^-1. Plants grown in the large root chambers were more photosynthetically efficient than plants grown in the small root chambers. At 350 μmol CO₂ mol^-1, leaf area and dry weights of plant organs were generally greater for plants in the large root chambers compared to those in the small root chambers. Atmospheric CO₂ enrichment may have compensated for the effects of root restriction on plant growth since at 1 000 μmol CO₂ mol^-1 there was generally no effect of root chamber size on plant dry weight.