CO2 enrichment increases carbon and nitrogen input from fine roots in a deciduous forest

* Greater fine-root production under elevated [CO2] may increase the input of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) to the soil profile because fine root populations turn over quickly in forested ecosystems. * Here, the effect of elevated [CO)] was assessed on root biomass and N inputs at several soil depths by combining a long-term minirhizotron dataset with continuous, root-specific measurements of root mass and [N]. The experiment was conducted in a CO(2)-enriched sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) plantation. * CO2) enrichment had no effect on root tissue density or [N] within a given diameter class. Root biomass production and standing crop were doubled under elevated [CO2]. Though fine-root turnover declined under elevated [CO2], fine-root mortality was also nearly doubled under CO2 enrichment. Over 9 yr, root mortality resulted in 681 g m(-2) of extra C and 9 g m(-2) of extra N input to the soil system under elevated [CO2]. At least half of these inputs were below 30 cm soil depth. * Increased C and N input to the soil under CO2 enrichment, especially below 30 cm depth, might alter soil C storage and N mineralization. Future research should focus on quantifying root decomposition dynamics and C and N mineralization deeper in the soil.     

Evidence that carbon dioxide enrichment alleviates ureide-induced decline of nodule nitrogenase activity

The hypothesis that elevated [CO(2)] alleviates ureide inhibition of N(2)-fixation was tested. Short-term responses of the acetylene reduction assay (ARA), ureide accumulation and total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) levels were measured following addition of ureide to the nutrient solution of hydroponically grown soybean. The plants were exposed to ambient (360 micromol mol(-1)) or elevated (700 micromol mol(-1)) [CO(2)]. Addition of 5 and 10 mM ureide to the nutrient solution inhibited N(2)-fixation activity under both ambient and elevated [CO(2)] conditions. However, the percentage inhibition following ureide treatment was significantly greater under ambient [CO(2)] as compared with that under elevated [CO(2)]. Under ambient [CO(2)] conditions, ARA was less than that under elevated [CO(2)] 1 d after ureide treatment. Under ambient [CO(2)], the application of ureide resulted in a significant accumulation of ureide in all plant tissues, with the highest concentration increases in the leaves. However, application of exogenous ureide to plants subjected to elevated [CO(2)] did not result in increased ureide concentration in any tissues. TNC concentrations were consistently higher under elevated [CO(2)] compared with those under ambient [CO(2)]. For both [CO(2)] treatments, the application of ureide induced a significant decrease of TNC concentrations in the leaves and nodules. For both leaves and nodules, a negative correlation was observed between TNC and ureide levels. Results indicate that product(s) of ureide catabolism rather than tissue ureide concentration itself are critical in the regulation of N(2)-fixation.     

Atmospheric carbon dioxide and fertilizer nitrogen effects on radiation interception by rice 1

In order to predict the potential impacts of global change, it is important to understand the impact of increasing global atmospheric [CO₂] on the growth and yield of crop plants. The objectives of this study were to determine the interaction of N fertilization rates and atmospheric [CO₂] on radiation interception and radiation-use efficiency of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. IR72) grown under tropical field conditions. Rice plants were grown inside open top chambers in a lowland rice field at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines at ambient (about 350 μmol mol^-1) or elevated (about 600 μmol mol^-1 during the 1993 wet season and 700 μmol mol^-1 during the 1994 dry season) in combination with three levels of applied N (0, 50 or 100 kg N ha^-1 in the wet season; 0, 90 or 200 kg N ha-1 in the dry season). Light interception was not directly affected by [CO₂], but elevated [CO₂] indirectly increased light interception through increasing total absorbed N. Plant N requirement for radiation interception was similar for rice grown under ambient [CO₂] or elevated [CO₂] treatments. The conversion efficiency of intercepted radiation to dry matter, radiation-use efficiency (RUE), was about 35% greater at elevated [CO₂] than at ambient [CO₂]. The relationship between leaf N and RUE was curvilinear. At ambient [CO₂], RUE was fairly stable across levels of leaf N, but leaf N less than about 2.5% resulted in lower RUE for plants grown with elevated [CO₂] than for plant grown at ambient [CO₂]. Decreased leaf N with increased [CO₂], therefore decreased RUE of rice plants grown at elevated [CO₂]. When predicting responses of rice to elevated [CO₂], RUE should be adjusted with a decrease in leaf N. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Long-term growth of soybean at elevated [CO2] does not cause acclimation of stomatal conductance under fully open-air conditions

Accurately predicting plant function and global biogeochemical cycles later in this century will be complicated if stomatal conductance (g(s)) acclimates to growth at elevated [CO(2)], in the sense of a long-term alteration of the response of g(s) to [CO(2)], humidity (h) and/or photosynthetic rate (A). If so, photosynthetic and stomatal models will require parameterization at each growth [CO(2)] of interest. Photosynthetic acclimation to long-term growth at elevated [CO(2)] occurs frequently. Acclimation of g(s) has rarely been examined, even though stomatal density commonly changes with growth [CO(2)]. Soybean was grown under field conditions at ambient [CO(2)] (378 micromol mol(-1)) and elevated [CO(2)] (552 micromol mol(-1)) using free-air [CO(2)] enrichment (FACE). This study tested for stomatal acclimation by parameterizing and validating the widely used Ball et al. model (1987, Progress in Photosynthesis Research, vol IV, 221-224) with measurements of leaf gas exchange. The dependence of g(s) on A, h and [CO(2)] at the leaf surface was unaltered by long-term growth at elevated [CO(2)]. This suggests that the commonly observed decrease in g(s) under elevated [CO(2)] is due entirely to the direct instantaneous effect of [CO(2)] on g(s) and that there is no longer-term acclimation of g(s) independent of photosynthetic acclimation. The model accurately predicted g(s) for soybean growing under ambient and elevated [CO(2)] in the field. Model parameters under ambient and elevated [CO(2)] were indistinguishable, demonstrating that stomatal function under ambient and elevated [CO(2)] could be modelled without the need for parameterization at each growth [CO(2)].     

Does ear C sink strength contribute to overcoming photosynthetic acclimation of wheat plants exposed to elevated CO2?

Wheat plants (Triticum durum Desf., cv. Regallo) were grown in the field to study the effects of contrasting [CO(2)] conditions (700 versus 370 μmol mol(-1)) on growth, photosynthetic performance, and C management during the post-anthesis period. The aim was to test whether a restricted capacity of sink organs to utilize photosynthates drives a loss of photosynthetic capacity in elevated CO(2). The ambient (13)C/(12)C isotopic composition (δ(13)C) of air CO(2) was changed from -10.2‰ in ambient [CO(2)] to -23.6‰ under elevated [CO(2)] between the 7th and the 14th days after anthesis in order to study C assimilation and partitioning between leaves and ears. Elevated [CO(2)] had no significant effect on biomass production and grain filling, and caused an accumulation of C compounds in leaves. This was accompanied by up-regulation of phosphoglycerate mutase and ATP synthase protein content, together with down-regulation of adenosine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphatase protein. Growth in elevated [CO(2)] negatively affected Rubisco and Rubisco activase protein content and induced photosynthetic down-regulation. CO(2) enrichment caused a specific decrease in Rubisco content, together with decreases in the amino acid and total N content of leaves. The C labelling revealed that in flag leaves, part of the C fixed during grain filling was stored as starch and structural C compounds whereas the rest of the labelled C (mainly in the form of soluble sugars) was completely respired 48 h after the end of labelling. Although labelled C was not detected in the δ(13)C of ear total organic matter and respired CO(2), soluble sugar δ(13)C revealed that a small amount of labelled C reached the ear. The (12)CO(2) labelling suggests that during the beginning of post-anthesis the ear did not contribute towards overcoming flag leaf carbohydrate accumulation, and this had a consequent effect on protein expression and photosynthetic acclimation.     

Effect of shade on the growth and mineral nutrition of a C4 perennial grass under field conditions

The effect of shading by a shrub legume on the growth and nutrient uptake of a C4 tropical grass was studied during four regrowth cycles. Regrowth periods were characterised by contrasting soil water availability. Dichanthium aristatum (Poir.) C. E. Hubbard swards were grown in full sun and under Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit with a light transmission level ranging from 80 to 30% of the incoming photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), depending on shrub regrowth. A treatment with high N and water supply was included in one of the cycles to quantify the effect of shade alone on potential growth.Aboveground biomass (DM) and leaf area index (LAI) of swards were not depressed by the reduction of incoming PAR. The reduction in transmitted PAR by shrubs was compensated by an increase in the radiation use efficiency (RUE) of shaded swards. Higher RUE of unfertilised, shaded stands may be explained by higher levels of N availability in the soil. This is supported by the analysis of curves relating sward N accumulation to sward DM accumulation. In fact, for similar measured biomass the accummulated N was higher in shaded stands, a consequence of their higher N concentrations. This allowed shaded leaves to improve their CO2 assimilation rates on a leaf area basis. Higher RUE reported on shaded stands may be the consequence of higher leaf CO2 assimilation rates and also possible changes in the shoot:root ratio. As with N, the amount of K taken up by the sward was higher under shade, whereas P data were higher under shade only during the driest cycle. A positive water balance, alone or in combination with high N fertilisation, eliminated the improvement of the N nutrition of shaded stands. Thus, the positive effects of shade may be only observed when N and water are limiting sward growth in the open.     

Determination of the site of CO₂ sensing in poplar: is the area-based N content and anatomy of new leaves determined by their immediate CO₂ environment or by the CO₂ environment of mature leaves?

Exposure to an elevated CO(2) concentration ([CO(2)]) generally decreases leaf N content per unit area (N(area)) and stomatal density, and increases leaf thickness. Mature leaves can 'sense' elevated [CO(2)] and this regulates stomatal development of expanding leaves (systemic regulation). It is unclear if systemic regulation is involved in determination of leaf thickness and N(area)-traits that are significantly correlated with photosynthetic capacity. A cuvette system was used whereby [CO(2)] around mature leaves was controlled separately from that around expanding leaves. Expanding leaves of poplar (Populus trichocarpa×P. deltoides) seedlings were exposed to elevated [CO(2)] (720 μmol mol(-1)) while the remaining mature leaves inside the cuvette were under ambient [CO(2)] of 360 μmol mol(-1). Reverse treatments were performed. Exposure of newly developing leaves to elevated [CO(2)] increased their thickness, but when mature leaves were exposed to elevated [CO(2)] the increase in thickness of new leaves was less pronounced. The largest response to [CO(2)] was reflected in the palisade tissue thickness (as opposed to the spongy tissue) of new leaves. The N(area) of new leaves was unaffected by the local [CO(2)] where the new leaves developed, but decreased following the exposure of mature leaves to elevated [CO(2)]. The volume fraction of mesophyll cells compared with total leaf and the mesophyll cell density changed in a manner similar to the response of N(area). These results suggest that N(area) is controlled independently of the leaf thickness, and suggest that N(area) is under systemic regulation by [CO(2)] signals from mature leaves that control mesophyll cell division.     

Does nitrogen supply affect the response of wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Hanno) to the combination of elevated CO(2) and O(3)?

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Hanno) was grown at ambient (350 micromol mol(-1)) or elevated CO(2) (700 micromol mol(-1)) in charcoal/Purafil-filtered air (CFA <5 nmol mol(-1)) or ozone (CFA +75 nmol mol(-1) 7 h d(-1)) at three levels of N supply (1.5, 4 and 14 mM NO(-3)), to test the hypothesis that the combined impacts of elevated CO(2) and O(3) on plant growth and photosynthetic capacity are affected by nitrogen availability. Shifts in foliar N content reflected the level of N supplied, and the growth stimulation induced by elevated CO(2) was dependent on the level of N supply. At 60 d after transfer (DAT), elevated CO(2) was found to increase total biomass by 44%, 29%, 12% in plants supplied with 14, 4 and 1.5 mM NO(-3), respectively, and there was no evidence of photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO(2) across N treatments; the maximum in vivo rate of Rubisco carboxylation (V(cmax)) was similar in plants raised at elevated and ambient CO(2). At 60 DAT, ozone exposure was found to suppress plant relative growth rate (RGR) and net photosynthesis (A) in plants supplied with 14 and 4 mM NO(-3). However, O(3) had no effect on the RGR of plants supplied with 1.5 mM NO(-3) and this effect was accompanied by a reduced impact of the pollutant on A. Elevated CO(2) counteracted the detrimental effects of O(3) (i.e. the same ozone concentration that depressed RGR and A at ambient CO(2) resulted in no significant effects when plants were raised at elevated CO(2)) at all levels of N supply and the effect was associated with a decline in O(3) uptake at the leaf level.     

The rate of nitrite reduction in leaves as indicated by O₂ and CO₂ exchange during photosynthesis

Light response (at 300 ppm CO(2) and 10-50 ppm O(2) in N(2)) and CO(2) response curves [at absorbed photon fluence rate (PAD) of 550 μmol m(-2) s(-1)] of O(2) evolution and CO(2) uptake were measured in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves grown on either NO(3)(-) or NH(4)(+) as N source and in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), and amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) leaves grown on NH(4)NO(3). Photosynthetic O(2) evolution in excess of CO(2) uptake was measured with a stabilized zirconia O(2) electrode and an infrared CO(2) analyser, respectively, and the difference assumed to represent the rate of electron flow to acceptors alternative to CO(2), mainly NO(2)(-), SO(4)(2-), and oxaloacetate. In NO(3)(-)-grown tobacco, as well as in sorghum, amaranth, and young potato, the photosynthetic O(2)-CO(2) flux difference rapidly increased to about 1 μmol m(-2) s(-1) at very low PADs and the process was saturated at 50 μmol quanta m(-2) s(-1). At higher PADs the O(2)-CO(2) flux difference continued to increase proportionally with the photosynthetic rate to a maximum of about 2 μmol m(-2) s(-1). In NH(4)(+)-grown tobacco, as well as in potato during tuber filling, the low-PAD component of surplus O(2) evolution was virtually absent. The low-PAD phase was ascribed to photoreduction of NO(2)(-) which successfully competes with CO(2) reduction and saturates at a rate of about 1 μmol O(2) m(-2) s(-1) (9% of the maximum O(2) evolution rate). The high-PAD component of about 1 μmol O(2) m(-2) s(-1), superimposed on NO(2)(-) reduction, may represent oxaloacetate reduction. The roles of NO(2)(-), oxaloacetate, and O(2) reduction in the regulation of ATP/NADPH balance are discussed.     

空气 NH3增高和不同氮源供应下大叶相思叶片光合参数的变化

生长在空气 NH3增高下 45 d的 NOˉ3- N大叶相思植株 ,其光饱和光合速率较对照的植株高 ;而生长在空气 NH3增高下的 NH 4- N和 NH4 NO3- N的大叶相思 ,当光强在 70 0 μmol·m- 2 ·s- 1左右时 Pn 达到最大值 ,较对照植株的要高。而当光强 >70 0 μmol·m- 2·s- 1时 ,Pn 降低 ,且较生长在对照条件下的低。表明在空气 NH3增高下生长的 NH 4- N和 NH4 NO3- N植株 ,其净光合速率 Pn会受到强光抑制。空气 NH3增高并不明显改变光呼吸 ( Rd)和无光呼吸下的 CO2 补充点 (Γ* )。无论生长在何种氮源下的大叶相思 ,其最大Ru BP饱和羧化速率 ( Vcmax)和最大电子传递速率 ( Jmax)均较生长在对照植株的高 ( P<0 .0 5 ) ,其叶氮含量亦较高 ( P<0 .0 5 ) ,其碳氮比较对照的低。在空气 NH3增高下 ,无论何种氮源生长的大叶相思 ,其 PR和 PB明显高于对照的植株 ,表明大叶相思能从空气 NH3中摄取和同化氮 ,增加氮积累和有利于 Rubisco和电子传递组分的合成 ,增高光合速率。空气 NH3增高可能有利于 Rubisco和电子传递组分的合成 ,在较低光强下能增高光合速率。空气 NH3增高可能有利于退化生态系统的生态恢复过程中的氮积累和先锋植物的早期生长。     

Decreases in stomatal conductance of soybean under open-air elevation of [CO2] are closely coupled with decreases in ecosystem evapotranspiration

Stomatal responses to atmospheric change have been well documented through a range of laboratory- and field-based experiments. Increases in atmospheric concentration of CO(2) ([CO(2)]) have been shown to decrease stomatal conductance (g(s)) for a wide range of species under numerous conditions. Less well understood, however, is the extent to which leaf-level responses translate to changes in ecosystem evapotranspiration (ET). Since many changes at the soil, plant, and canopy microclimate levels may feed back on ET, it is not certain that a decrease in g(s) will decrease ET in rain-fed crops. To examine the scaling of the effect of elevated [CO(2)] on g(s) at the leaf to ecosystem ET, soybean (Glycine max) was grown in field conditions under control (approximately 375 micromol CO(2) mol(-1) air) and elevated [CO(2)] (approximately 550 micromol mol(-1)) using free air CO(2) enrichment. ET was determined from the time of canopy closure to crop senescence using a residual energy balance approach over four growing seasons. Elevated [CO(2)] caused ET to decrease between 9% and 16% depending on year and despite large increases in photosynthesis and seed yield. Ecosystem ET was linked with g(s) of the upper canopy leaves when averaged across the growing seasons, such that a 10% decrease in g(s) results in a 8.6% decrease in ET; this relationship was not altered by growth at elevated [CO(2)]. The findings are consistent with model and historical analyses that suggest that, despite system feedbacks, decreased g(s) of upper canopy leaves at elevated [CO(2)] results in decreased transfer of water vapor to the atmosphere.     

Hourly and seasonal variation in photosynthesis and stomatal conductance of soybean grown at future CO(2) and ozone concentrations for 3 years under fully open-air field conditions

It is anticipated that enrichment of the atmosphere with CO(2) will increase photosynthetic carbon assimilation in C3 plants. Analysis of controlled environment studies conducted to date indicates that plant growth at concentrations of carbon dioxide ([CO(2)]) anticipated for 2050 ( approximately 550 micromol mol(-1)) will stimulate leaf photosynthetic carbon assimilation (A) by 20 to 40%. Simultaneously, concentrations of tropospheric ozone ([O(3)]) are expected to increase by 2050, and growth in controlled environments at elevated [O(3)] significantly reduces A. However, the simultaneous effects of both increases on a major crop under open-air conditions have never been tested. Over three consecutive growing seasons > 4700 individual measurements of A, photosynthetic electron transport (J(PSII)) and stomatal conductance (g(s)) were measured on Glycine max (L.) Merr. (soybean). Experimental treatments used free-air gas concentration enrichment (FACE) technology in a fully replicated, factorial complete block design. The mean A in the control plots was 14.5 micromol m(-2) s(-1). At elevated [CO(2)], mean A was 24% higher and the treatment effect was statistically significant on 80% of days. There was a strong positive correlation between daytime maximum temperatures and mean daily integrated A at elevated [CO(2)], which accounted for much of the variation in CO(2) effect among days. The effect of elevated [CO(2)] on photosynthesis also tended to be greater under water stress conditions. The elevated [O(3)] treatment had no statistically significant effect on mean A, g(s) or J(PSII) on newly expanded leaves. Combined elevation of [CO(2)] and [O(3)] resulted in a slightly smaller increase in average A than when [CO(2)] alone was elevated, and was significantly greater than the control on 67% of days. Thus, the change in atmospheric composition predicted for the middle of this century will, based on the results of a 3 year open-air field experiment, have smaller effects on photosynthesis, g(s) and whole chain electron transport through photosystem II than predicted by the substantial literature on relevant controlled environment studies on soybean and likely most other C3 plants.     

CO(2) enrichment enhances flag leaf senescence in barley due to greater grain nitrogen sink capacity

Senescence is a highly regulated process which is under genetic control. In monocarpic plants, the onset of fruit development is the most important factor initiating the senescence process. During senescence, a large fraction of plant nutrients is reallocated away from vegetative tissues into generative tissues. Senescence may therefore be regarded as a highly effective salvage mechanism to save nutrients for the offspring. CO(2) enrichment, besides increasing growth and yield of C(3) plants, has often been shown to accelerate leaf senescence. C(3) plants grown under elevated CO(2) experience alterations in their nutrient relations. In particular their tissue nitrogen concentrations are always lower after exposure to elevated CO(2). We used a monocarpic C(3) crop - spring barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. Alexis) - grown in open-top field chambers to test the effects of CO(2) enrichment on growth and yield, on nitrogen acquisition and redistribution, and on the senescence process in flag leaves, at two applications of nitrogen fertilizer. CO(2) enrichment (650 vs. 366 μmol mol(-1)) caused an increase both in biomass and in grain yield by 38% (average of the two fertilizer applications) which was due to increased tillering. Total nitrogen uptake of the crops was not affected by CO(2) treatment but responded solely to the N supply. Nitrogen concentrations in grains and straw were significantly lower (-33 and -24%) in plants grown at elevated CO(2). Phenological development was not altered by CO(2) until anthesis. However, progress of flag leaf senescence as assessed by chlorophyll content, protein content and content of large and small subunit of RubisCO and of cytochrome b559 was enhanced under elevated CO(2) concentrations by approximately 4 days. We postulate that CO(2) enhanced flag leaf senescence in barley crops by increasing the nitrogen sink capacity of the grains.     

Seasonal changes in canopy photosynthesis and respiration, and partitioning of photosynthate, in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown under free-air CO2 enrichment

An increase in atmospheric CO(2) concentration ( [CO(2)]) is generally expected to enhance photosynthesis and biomass. Rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) were grown in ambient CO(2) (AMB) or free-air CO(2)-enrichment (FACE), in which the target [CO(2)] was 200 micromol mol(-1) above AMB. (13)CO(2) was fed to the plants at different stages so we could examine the partitioning of photosynthates. Furthermore, canopy photosynthesis and respiration were measured at those stages. The ratio of (13)C content in the whole plant to the amount of fixed (13)C under FACE was similar to that under AMB at the vegetative stage. However, the ratio under FACE was greater than the ratio under AMB at the grain-filling stage. At the vegetative stage, plants grown under FACE had a larger biomass than those grown under AMB owing to enhancement of canopy photosynthesis by the increased [CO(2)]. On the other hand, at the grain-filling stage, CO(2) enrichment promoted the partitioning of photosynthate to ears, and plants grown under FACE had a greater weight of ears. However, enhancement of ear weight by CO(2) enrichment was not as great as that of biomass at the vegetative stage. Plants grown under FACE did not necessarily show higher canopy photosynthetic rates at the grain-filling stage. Therefore, we concluded that the ear weight did not increase as much as biomass at the vegetative stage owing to a loss of the advantage in CO(2) gain during the grain-filling period.     

红豆草与土壤氮含量对大气二氧化碳浓度升高的响应

在封闭的植物培养箱中,通过盆栽实验,研究了红豆草和土壤氮含量对CO₂浓度增加的响应.结果表明,与正常CO₂浓度(355～370 μmol·mol^-1)相比,CO₂浓度升高(700 μmol·mol^-1),植物生物量增加25.1%(P＜0.01),但植物体氮浓度降低25.3%(P＜0.001),植物全氮没有显著的变化.经3个月盆栽实验后,与原始土壤相比,两种CO₂浓度处理土壤全N、NO₃^--N和NH₄⁺-N都有所降低,而土壤微生物氮则显著增加,这可能与植物生长有关.不同CO₂浓度处理土壤NH₄⁺-N浓度基本一致,但在高CO₂浓度下,土壤NO₃^--N浓度显著降低,而微生物生物氮显著增加.对整个土壤-植物系统而言,盆栽实验后,整个系统全氮有少量增加,但变化不显著,特别是在高CO₂浓度条件下,土壤-植物系统全氮最大,这可能与培养材料红豆草为豆科植物,而且在高CO₂浓度下生物量增加,导致氮的固定量增加有关.     

Response of respiration of soybean leaves grown at ambient and elevated carbon dioxide concentrations to day-to-day variation in light and temperature under field conditions

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Respiration is an important component of plant carbon balance, but it remains uncertain how respiration will respond to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, and there are few measurements of respiration for crop plants grown at elevated [CO(2)] under field conditions. The hypothesis that respiration of leaves of soybeans grown at elevated [CO(2)] is increased is tested; and the effects of photosynthesis and acclimation to temperature examined. METHODS: Net rates of carbon dioxide exchange were recorded every 10 min, 24 h per day for mature upper canopy leaves of soybeans grown in field plots at the current ambient [CO(2)] and at ambient plus 350 micromol mol(-1) [CO(2)] in open top chambers. Measurements were made on pairs of leaves from both [CO(2)] treatments on a total of 16 d during the middle of the growing seasons of two years. KEY RESULTS: Elevated [CO(2)] increased daytime net carbon dioxide fixation rates per unit of leaf area by an average of 48 %, but had no effect on night-time respiration expressed per unit of area, which averaged 53 mmol m(-2) d(-1) (1.4 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) for both the ambient and elevated [CO(2)] treatments. Leaf dry mass per unit of area was increased on average by 23 % by elevated [CO(2)], and respiration per unit of mass was significantly lower at elevated [CO(2)]. Respiration increased by a factor of 2.5 between 18 and 26 degrees C average night temperature, for both [CO(2)] treatments. CONCLUSIONS: These results do not support predictions that elevated [CO(2)] would increase respiration per unit of area by increasing photosynthesis or by increasing leaf mass per unit of area, nor the idea that acclimation of respiration to temperature would be rapid enough to make dark respiration insensitive to variation in temperature between nights.     

Senescence and hyperspectral reflectance of cotton leaves exposed to ultraviolet-B radiation and carbon dioxide

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of UV-B radiation and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO(2)]) on leaf senescence of cotton by measuring leaf photosynthesis and chlorophyll content and to identify changes in leaf hyperspectral reflectance occurring due to senescence and UV-B radiation. Plants were grown in controlled-environment growth chambers at two [CO(2)] (360 and 720 micro mol mol(-1)) and three levels of UV-B radiation (0, 7.7 and 15.1 kJ m(-2) day(-1)). Photosynthesis, chlorophyll, carotenoids and phenolic compounds along with leaf hyperspectral reflectance were measured on three leaves aged 12, 21 and 30 days in each of the treatments. No interaction was detected between [CO(2)] and UV-B for any of the measured parameters. Significant interactions were observed between UV-B and leaf age for photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. Elevated [CO(2)] enhanced leaf photosynthesis by 32%. On exposure to 0, 7.7 and 15.1 kJ of UV-B, the photosynthetic rates of 30-day-old leaves compared with 12-day-old leaves were reduced by 52, 76 and 86%, respectively. Chlorophyll pigments were not affected by leaf age at UV-B radiation of 0 and 7.7 kJ, but UV-B of 15.1 kJ reduced the chlorophylls by 20, 60 and 80% in 12, 21 and 30-day-old leaves, respectively. The hyperspectral reflectance between 726 and 1142 nm showed interaction for UV-B radiation and leaf age. In cotton, leaf photosynthesis can be used as an indicator of leaf senescence, as it is more sensitive than photosynthetic pigments on exposure to UV-B radiation. This study revealed that, cotton leaves senesced early on exposure to UV-B radiation as indicated by leaf photosynthesis, and leaf hyperspectral reflectance can be used to detect changes caused by UV-B and leaf ageing.     

In vivo gas exchange measurement of the site and dynamics of nitrate reduction in soybean

A gas analysis system was built to study the relationship between the reductant cost of NO(3)(-) assimilation and the measured rate of CO(2) and O(2) exchange in roots, leaves, and stems+ petioles of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. cv Maple glen) plants. The measurements were used to calculate the diverted reductant utilization rate (DRUR = 4*[measured rate of CO(2) + measured rate of O(2)], in moles of high-energy electron [e(-)] per gram per hour) in plants in the presence (N+) and absence (N-) of NO(3)(-). The differences in DRUR between the N+ and N- treatments provided a measure of the NO(3)(-)-coupled DRUR of 25-d-old plants, whereas a (15)NO(3)(-)-enriched nutrient solution was used to obtain an independent measure of the rate of NO(3)(-) assimilation. The measured reductant cost for the whole plant was 9.6 e(-) per N assimilated, a value within the theoretical range of four to 10 e(-) per N assimilated. The results predicted that shoots accounted for about 55% of the whole-plant NO(3)(-) assimilation over the entire day, with shoots dominating in the light, and roots in the dark. The gas analysis approach described here holds promise as a powerful, noninvasive tool to study the regulation of NO(3)(-) assimilation in plant tissue.     

Nitroxyl oxidizes NADPH in a superoxide dismutase inhibitable manner

Nitric oxide synthases (NOS) convert L-arginine and N(omega)-hydroxy-L-arginine to nitric oxide (*NO) and/or nitroxyl (NO(-)) in a NADPH-dependent fashion. Subsequently, *NO/superoxide (O(2-)-derived peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) consumes one additional mol NADPH. The related stoichiometry of NO(-) and NADPH is unclear. We here describe that NO(-) also oxidizes NADPH in a concentration-dependent manner. In the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD), which also converts NO(-) to *NO, nitrite accumulation was almost doubled and no oxidation of NADPH was observed. Nitrate yield from NO(-) was low, arguing against intermediate ONOO(-) formation. Thus, biologically formed NO(-) may function as an effective pro-oxidant unless scavenged by SOD and affect the apparent NADPH stoichiometry of the NOS reaction.     

Preparation of platinum(IV) complexes with dipeptide and diimine. X-ray crystal structure and 195Pt NMR spectra

We prepared platinum(IV) complexes containing dipeptide and diimine or diamine, the [PtCl(dipeptide-N,N,O)(diimine or diamine)]Cl complex, where -N,N,O means dipeptide coordinated as a tridentate chelate, dipeptide=glycylglycine (NH(2)CH(2)CON(-)CH(2)COO(-), digly, where two protons of dipeptide are detached when the dipeptide coordinates to metal ion as a tridentate chelate), glycyl-L-alanine (NH(2)CH(2)CON(-)CHCH(3)COO(-), gly-L-ala), L-alanylglycine (NH(2)CH CH(3)CON(-)CH(2)COO(-), L-alagly), or L-alanyl-L-alanine (NH(2)CHCH(3)CON(-)CHCH(3)COO(-), dil-ala), and diimine or diamine=bipyridine (bpy), ethylenediamine (en), N-methylethylenediamine (N-Me-en), or N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine (N,N'-diMe-en). In the complexes containing gly-L-ala or dil-ala, two separate peaks of the (195)Pt NMR spectra of the [PtCl(dipeptide-N,N,O)(diimine or diamine)]Cl complexes appeared in, but in the complexes containing digly or L-alagly, one peak which contained two overlapped signals appeared. One of the two complexes containing gly-L-ala and bpy, [PtCl(gly-L-ala-N,N,O)(bpy)]NO(3), crystallized and was analyzed. This complex has the monoclinic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell dimensions of a=9.7906(3)A, b=11.1847(2)A, c=16.6796(2)A, Z=4. The crystal data revealed that this [PtCl(gly-L-ala-N,N,O)(bpy)]NO(3) complex has the near- (Cl, CH(3)) configuration of two possible isomers. Based on elemental analysis, the other complex must have the near- (Cl, CH(3))-[PtCl(gly-L-ala-N,N,O)(bpy)]NO(3) configuration. The (195)Pt NMR chemical shifts of the near- (Cl, CH(3))-[PtCl(gly-L-ala-N,N,O)(bpy)]NO(3) complex and the far- (Cl, CH(3))-[PtCl(gly-L-ala-N,N,O)(bpy)]NO(3) complex are 0 ppm and -19 ppm, respectively (0 ppm for the Na(2)[PtCl(6)] signal). The additive property of the (195)Pt NMR chemical shift is discussed. The (195)Pt NMR chemical shifts of [PtCl(dipeptide-N,N,O)(bpy)]Cl appeared at a higher field when the H attached to the dipeptide carbon atom was replaced with a methyl group. On the other hand, the (195)Pt NMR chemicals shifts of [PtCl(dipeptide-N,N,O)(diamine)] appeared at a lower field when the H attached to the diamine nitrogen atom was replaced with a methyl group, in the order of [PtCl(digly-N,N,O)(en)]Cl, [PtCl(digly-N,N,O)(N-Me-en)]Cl, and [PtCl(digly-N,N,O)(N,N'-diMe-en)]Cl.