高CO2浓度对大平不同叶位叶片叶绿体淀粉粒积累的效应

对高ＣＯ２浓度下生长的大豆不同叶位的叶片进行电镜观察,揭示出大豆不同叶位叶片的叶绿体对倍增的ＣＯ２浓度反应不一。其显的超微结构差异特征是：１．叶位居中的叶片叶绿体积累的淀粉粒不仅很大,而且最多,有的叶绿体中的分粒可达２０个,几种充满着叶绿体的基质空间。２．下位叶叶绿体的淀粉粒积累较多,通常为２￣５个;３．上位叶叶绿体所含淀粉粒既小又少,虽然有的叶绿体中也积累有３￣４个淀粉粒,但大多叶绿体中所含淀     

CO2和O3浓度倍增及其交互作用对大豆叶绿体超微结构的影响

应用透射电镜观察了模拟大气CO2和O3浓度倍增及其交互作用(开顶箱法)对大豆叶肉细胞叶绿体超微结构的影响。结果表明,CO2浓度倍增促进了大豆叶绿体的发育,内含淀粉粒积累明显增多、体积增大;叶绿体被膜保持完好;叶绿体基粒片层排列整齐,而O3浓度倍增抑制了叶绿体内淀粉粒的累积,并导致叶绿体被膜破碎,片层解体,严重地破坏了叶绿体的结构和功能CO2和O3浓度倍增的交互作用对叶绿体超微结构有不同程度的破坏,但二者浓度呈梯度增加对叶绿体的损害作用要大于二者浓度持续倍增对叶绿体的影响,进一步表明CO2正效应对O3负效应的补偿作用。     

玉米不同叶位叶片叶绿体超微结构与光合性能的研究

对玉米植株基部（第3叶）,中部（果穗叶）和上部（倒2叶）叶位叶片,进行叶绿体超微结构的观察,并测定了叶绿素含量和光合强度,结果表明,不同叶位叶片叶肉细胞中叶绿体的超微结构,随叶位上升而渐趋复杂化,果穗叶最为显著,向上又趋简单,具体表现为基粒片层的数目随叶位上升而增多基质片层和基质也随之增加,果穗叶最多,向上又趋减少,不同叶位叶片叶绿素含量和光合强度,果穗叶高于其它叶位。     

玉米不同叶位叶片叶绿体超微结构与光合性能的研究

对玉米植株基部（第3叶）,中部（果穗叶）和上部（倒2叶）叶位叶片,进行叶绿体超微结构的观察,并测定了叶绿素含量和光合强度,结果表明,不同叶位叶片叶肉细胞中叶绿体的超微结构,随叶位上升而渐趋复杂化,果穗叶最为显著,向上又趋简单,具体表现为基粒片层的数目随叶位上升而增多基质片层和基质也随之增加,果穗叶最多,向上又趋减少,不同叶位叶片叶绿素含量和光合强度,果穗叶高于其它叶位。     

糜子不同生育时期不同叶位叶片超微结构研究

对糜子不同生育时期、不同叶位叶片进行电镜观察.结果显示:(1)在籽粒灌浆中期以前,叶肉细胞排列整齐,细胞间隙小,细胞中叶绿体、线粒体等细胞器含量多.叶绿体、线粒体基质含量浓厚,高基粒片层数增加,胞问连丝畅通;(2)在籽粒灌浆中期以后,叶片迅速衰老,细胞解体,细胞间出现间隙,叶绿体减少,叶绿体基粒片层、基质片层解体.嗜锇颗粒变大增多.胞间连丝受到阻碍.(3)不同生育时期不同叶位叶绿体的高基粒片层数差异较大,其中在灌浆中期各叶位叶绿体高基粒片层数最高,在各生育时期旗叶的为最大.     

玉米种子萌发过程幼叶细胞中淀粉粒的积累观察

研究玉米萌发初期幼叶的发育。在幼叶不同的发育时期 ,分别用 PAS反应 ,考马氏蓝处理不同叶片 ,结果发现 :叶片细胞内的叶绿体在叶片即将抽出时才形成 ;从浸种萌动到叶片进行光合作用前 ,植株的营养供给 ,主要靠叶片自身淀粉粒的积聚提供 ;在幼叶抽出以前 ,胚芽鞘的薄壁细胞中布满淀粉粒 ,随着叶片的发育 ,这些淀粉粒逐渐减少 ;而幼叶中的淀粉粒的变化情况正好相反 :在种子萌发初期 ,幼叶细胞内只有少量的淀粉粒 ,以后淀粉粒的积累逐渐增多 ;在这个阶段无蛋白质的积聚。幼叶中维管束的发生是先中间后两边 ,维管束中的韧皮部先形成 ,木质部后发生。     

CO2浓度倍增对垂柳和杜仲叶绿体吸收光能和激发能分配的影响

研究了CO_2浓度倍增对垂柳(Salix babylonica L.)和杜仲(Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.)叶片光合色素含量、叶绿体对光能吸收能力和激发能在两个光系统之间分配的影响。结果表明,CO_2 浓度倍增能提高垂柳叶片单位鲜重和单位叶面积叶绿素(Chl)和类胡萝卜素(Car)的含量;提高杜仲Chl含量,降低Car含量。CO_2浓度倍增能提高含等量Chl的叶绿体对光能的吸收和激发能在两个光系统间分配的调节能力。     

日光温室光温因子对黄瓜叶绿体超微结构及其功能的影响

在日光温室内,研究了光温因子对黄瓜叶绿体超微结构及其功能的影响．结果表明,因季节之间光、温条件不同,日光温室黄瓜叶片显微结构和叶绿体超微结构有一定差异,1月份光照弱叶肉细胞较大,而5月份光照强叶绿体数较多．在该试验条件下,未发现叶片光合速率与叶绿体超微结构之间有直接或密切的相关性．在各生长季节其光合速率均为第4叶>初展叶>基部叶,与叶龄及各叶位的受光量有关．如果将不同叶位叶放在相同的光照下,则差异明显减少．黄瓜叶片的叶肉细胞、叶绿体和淀粉粒的大小以及叶绿体数、基粒数、基粒厚度、基粒片层数都随叶位的下降而呈增加趋势。不同品种、同品种不同生长时期的叶片显微结构和叶绿体超微结构及其功能也有一定的差异．限制日光温室冬季黄瓜光合作用的主要因素是光照弱、有效光照时数少,而在晴天温度的限制作用相对较小。阴天因光照弱而导致的室内低温则是限制黄瓜生长的关键因素．     

CO2浓度倍增对小麦叶绿体超微结构、超分子结构及光谱特性的影响

超薄切片及冰冻撕裂电镜观察、吸收光谱及77 K低温荧光发射光谱的测定结果表明:CO2浓度倍增对小麦( Triticum aestivum L.)叶绿体的超微、超分子结构及光谱特性的影响均为正效应.具体反映在:(1)小麦叶绿体中除了比对照积累有较多的淀粉粒外,其基粒和基质类囊体膜发育较好;(2)叶绿体的光合膜系,无论是垛叠和非垛叠膜区,其镶嵌于内质膜撕裂面(EFs和EFu)及原生质膜撕裂面(PFs和PFu)的功能蛋白粒均比其对照的发育良好,尤其PFs 与EFs面较为突出,即它们除了所含蛋白粒的密度较大外,在EFs面上有时还呈现出密集有序的阵列结构;(3)叶绿体整个吸收谱带,尤其红区和蓝区的主峰均较其对照有较大的光吸收,表明对光能的捕获能力明显高于对照;(4)无论是以436 nm还是以480nm波长激发的,其叶绿体的F684/F733 (PSⅡ/PSⅠ)的比值均较对照的高,表明CO2浓度倍增条件下生长的小麦叶片叶绿体的PSⅡ相对荧光强度有所增强,这与叶绿体的超微、超分子结构及吸收光谱的测定结果相一致.以上结果可为小麦在高CO2浓度下增产提供理论依据.     

CO2浓度倍增对谷子拔节期和灌浆期光合色素含量和PSⅡ功能的影响

研究了CO_2浓度倍增对谷子(Setaria italica (L.)Beauv.)叶片单位鲜重和单位叶面积叶绿素(Chl)和类胡萝卜素(Car)的含量以及PSⅡ功能的影响。结果表明,CO_2浓度倍增能提高拔节期成熟叶片和灌浆期成熟旗叶的Chl和Car的含量,并且能提高这两种叶片PSⅡ反应中心开放部分的比例。然而拔节期叶片和灌浆期旗叶的qN值和PSⅡ总的光化学量子产量,以及 F_v/F_o、F_v/F_m和F_d/F_s的值对CO_2浓度倍增的响应不同,表明CO_2浓度倍增对拔节期叶片光合功能的改善优于灌浆期的旗叶。     

Effect of Elevated CO2 Concentration on the Starch Grain Accumulation in Chloroplasts from Soybean Leaves at Different Nodes

Soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr. ) plants were grown under ambient and elevated CO2 (plus 350 μL/L) concentration in cylindrical open-top chamber to examine their effects on the ultra- structure of chloroplasts. The upper, lower and mid-node leaves were harvested after 7 days full expansion under different CO2 concentrations and ultrathin section were prepared for transmission electron microscopy. In general, the average content of starch grains and thylakoid membranes in the chloroplasts under the elevated CO2 concentration were always higher than the control. Under higher CO2 concentration, there were smaller and less starch grains in the chloroplasts from upper-node leaves than those from mid-node leaves. The shape of their starch grains changed from elliptical to oval,and their thylakoid membranes and grana remained normal. At lower-node leaves, one or two oval, or three timer starch grains accumulated in the chloroplasts. In the mid-node leaves,however, some chloroplasts under higher CO2 concentration had rather large tim elliptical starch grains which could consequently cause disruption of grana and stroama thylakoids in the chloroplasts, whereas in other chloroplasts, the thylakoid membranes and grana were not deformed as the starch grains were smaller and elliptical. On the other hand, under higher CO2 concentration, the stacking degree of thylakoid membranes and starch grains accumulation in the mid-node leaves were significantly higher than those in the lower-node leaves,and slightly higher than the upper-node leaves. These results, in agreement with the chlorophyll contents and photosynthetic rate which reported by other authors in the past, indicated that the ultrastmcture response of the chloroplasts from different leaf nodes of soybeen under elevated CO2 coneentration were different. The seed yield of soybean at different nodes was decreased gradually from mid-nodes towards both upper- and lower-nodes. The greatest effect of elevated CO2 eoneentrafion on seed yeild was at the mid-node leaves. The variation of seed yields of soybean at different nodes under elevated CO2 concentration was in eoneert with the change in the ultrastmcture of chloroplasts and in turn the change in their photosynthetic rates of leaves at different nodes.     

Effect of Doubled-CO2 Concentration on the Ultrastructure of Chloroplasts from Medicago sativa and Setaria italica

It has been reported in quite a number of literatures that doubled CO2 concentration increased the photosynthetic rate and dry matter production of C3 plants, but substantially affected C4 plants little. However, why may CO2 enrichment promote growth and either no change or decrease reproductive allocation of the C3 species, but havinag no effects on growth characteristics of the C4 plants? So far, there has been no satisfactory explanation on that mentioned above, except the differences in their CO2 compensatory points. In the past, although some studies on ultrastructure of the chloroplasts under doubled CO2 concentration were limitedly conducted. Almost all the relevant experimental materials were only from C3 plants not from C4 plants, and even though the results were of inconsistancy. Thereby, it needs to verify whether the differences in photosynthesis of C3 and C4 plants at doubled CO2 level is caused by the difference in their chloroplast deterioration. Experiments to this subject were conducted at the Botanical Garden of Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica in 1993 and 1994. Both experimental materials from C3 plant alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and C4 plant foxtail millet (Setaria italica) were cultivated in the cylindrical open-top chambers (2.2 m in diameter × 2.4 m in height) with aluminum frames covered by polyethylene film. Natural air or air with 350× 10-6 CO2 were blown from the bottom of the chamber space with constant temperature between inside and outside of the chamber 〈0.2℃〉. Electron microscopic observation revealed that the ultrastructure of the chloroplasts from C3 plant Medicago sativa and C4 plant Seteria italica growing under the same doubled CO2 concentration were quite different from each other. The differential characteristics in ultrastructure of chloro plasts displayed mainly in the configuration of thylakoid membrances and the accumulation of starch grains. They were as follows: 1. The most striking feature was the building up of starch grains in the chloroplasts of the bundle sheath cells (BSCs) and the mesophyll cells (MCs) at doubled CO2 concentra tion. The starch grains appeared centrifugally first in the BSCs and then in the chloroplast of the other MCs. It was worthy to note that the starch grains in the chloroplasts of C4 plant Setaria ira/ica were much more than those of the C3 plant Medicago sativa . The decline of photosynthesis in the doubled CO2-grown C4 plants might be caused by an over accumulation of starch grains, that deformed the chloroplast even demaged the stroma thylakoids and grana. There might exsist a correlation between the comformation of thylakoid system and starch grain accumulation, namely conversion and transfer of starch need energy from ATP, and coupling factor (CF) for ATP formation distributed mainly on protoplastic surface (PSu) of stroma thylakoid membranes, as well as end and margin membranes of grana thylakoids. Thereby, these results could provide a conclusive evidence for the reason of non effectiveness on growth characteristics of C4 plant. 2. Under normal condition , the mature chlolroplats of higher plants usually develop complete and regularly arranged photosynthetic membrane systems . Chloroplasts from the C4 plant Setaria italica, however, exerted significant changes on stacking degree, grana width and stroma thylakoid length under doubled CO2 concentration; In these changes, the grana stacks were smaller and more numerous, and the number of thylakoids per granum was greatly increased, and the stroma thylakoid was greatly lengthened as compared to those of the control chloroplasts. But the grana were mutually intertwined by stroma thylakoid. The integrity of some of the grana were damaged due to the augmentation of the intrathylakoid space . Similarly, the stroma thylakoids were also expanded. In case. the plant was seriously effected by doubled CO2 concentration as observed in C4 plant Setaria italica , its chloroplasts contained merely the stroma (matrix) with abundant starch grains, while grana and stroma thylakoid membranes were unrecognizable, or occasionally a few residuous pieces of thylakoid membranes could be visualized, leaving a situation which appeared likely to be chloroplast deterioration. However, under the same condition the C3 plant Medicago sativa possessed normally developed chloroplasts, with intact grana and stroma thylakoid membranes. Its chloroplasts contained grana intertwined with stroma thylakoid membranes, and increased in stacking degree and granum width, in spite of more accumulated starch grains within the chloroplasts. These configuration changes of the thylakoid system were in consistant with the results of the authors another study on chloroplast function, viz. the increased capacity of chloroplasts for light absorption and efficiency of PSⅡ.     

Changes of Thylakoid Membrane Stacks and Chl a/b Ratio of Chloroplast from Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) Seeds During Their Germination Under Light

Changes of chloroplast thylakoid membrane stacks and Chl a/b ratio in the plumule of sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) seeds during their germination under light were as follows: Before germination there were giant grana and very low Chi a/b ratio (0.9) in the chloroplasts. Two days after germination, the thylakoid membranes of the giant grana gradually loosened and even destacked (disintegrated), the Chl a/b ratio was 1.06. Four clays after germination, the newly formed grana thylakoid membranes were 3–5 times shorter than those of the supergrana thylakoid membranes before germination and less grana stacks were seen; the Chl a/b ratio was 1.42. Six days after germination, the stacked thylakoi membranes became more orderly arranged. In addition the grana increased in number, the stroma thylakoid membranes were scarce, the Chl a/b ratio was 2.16. Eiglt days after germination, the thylakoid membranes in each granum decreased, but the total number of grana increased only slightly. In the meantime, some large starch grains and more stroma thylakoid membranes appeared; the Chl a/b ratio was 2.77. Ten days after germination normal thylakoid membrane structure was formed both in grana and stroma lamellae. They were arranged orderly as in the chloroplasts of other higher plants; the Chl a/b ratio was 2.80. The following conclusions could be drawn from the above mentioned results: 1) There was a negative correlation between the degree of stacking of the grana thylakoid membranes and the Chl a/b ratio. This statement further proved that the membranes stacking might mainly be induced by LHCII. 2) Development of the grana thylakoid membranes within chloroplasts from sacred lotus plumule followed that of the stroma thylakoid membranes, and the tendency of changes of their Chl 2/b ratio being from the lowest to the highest and then to normal were quite different from those of other higher plants. The chloroplasts iri the latter plants contain long parallel stacks of nonappressed primary thylakoids at second step, and the changes of their ratio of Chl a/b tend to be from the highest to the lowest and then to normal. There are indications that sacred lotus plumule might employ a distinctive developing pathway. This provides an important basis for Nelumbo to possess an unique position in phylogeny of Angiospermae.     

Ultrastructural Development of Chloroplasts in Sacred Lotus Embryo Bud under Invisible Light

The present paper reports that the development ultrastructural observations of chloroplasts from sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) embryo buds under invisible light. Embryo bud of sacred lotus is enclosed by three layers of thick integument (pericap, seed coat and thick fleshy cotyledons). During the period of the formation of embryo bud, it remained in dark condition, but turned from pale yellow to bluish-green. It was noteworthy that chloroplasts of the embryo bud had well developed giant grana under invisible light. Their developmental pathway in sacred lotus, however, was different from those of other higher plants grown under sunlight, intermittent light, or even in dark conditions (Fig. 1). The chloroplast development of embryo buds in Sacred lotus seeds in invisible light underwent only in the following three stages: (1) In the first stage the development was similar to that from other higher plants, the inner envelope membranes of the proplastids were invaginating. (2) In the second stage, a proplastid centre composed of prolamellar bodies (PLB)with semicrystalline structure was formed, and was accompanied by one or two huge starch grains in almost each proplastid. In the meantime, prothylakoid membranes extended parallelly from the plastid centre in three forms: (a) One plastid centre extending parallelly prothylakoid membranes from itself in one direction; (b) The same to (a), but extending in two directions; (c) Two plastid centres extending parallelly prothylakoid membranes between the centres. (3) In the third stage, grana and stroma thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts were formed. It is to be noted that most of chloroplasts had only one or two giant grana which often extended across the entire chloroplast body, and the length of the grana thylakoid membranes of the chloroplasts from embryo bud in Sacred lotus is 3 to 5 times as many as that in other higher plants. However, their stromatic thylakoid membranes were rather rare and very short. The giant grana were squeezed to the margin of the chloroplast envelope by one or two huge starch grains.     

Chloroplast ultrastructure changes in Pisum sativum associated with supplementary ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation

Pea plants (Pisum sativum L. cv. Greenfeast) were grown and exposed to supplementary UV-B radiation from day 17 after planting under growth cabinet conditions. The effects of this exposure on the ultrastructure of chloroplasts and the total soluble sugar and starch concentrations were estimated. Supplementary UV-B radiation was shown to damage the structure of chloroplasts, as manifested by dilation of thylakoid membranes, a progressive disruption of the thylakoid structure and disintegration of the double membrane envelope surrounding the chloroplast, accompanied by the accumulation of large starch grains. Diurnal changes observed in starch concentration suggest that the higher concentration of starch in supplementary UV-B-treated leaves is due to its immobilization, rather than to any increase in starch synthesis: soluble sugars accumulated and remained at a higher level and then later declined.     

墨兰幼叶和成熟叶不同部位叶绿体超微结构和光合作用

墨兰试管苗植株成熟叶片叶绿体基粒较发达,类囊本膜垛叠较紧密。幼叶叶绿体中少有亲锇颗粒,成熟叶的叶绿体中往往既有亲锇颗粒又有淀粉粒。幼叶中基粒数目比成熟叶的少,叶绿体也比成熟叶的小。幼叶的光合放氧速率比成熟叶的低。幼叶中叶尖部叶绿体最大而叶基部最小,但叶尖部的光合放氧速率比叶基部小。成熟叶中叶绿体大小及光合放氧速率区别不明显。通过对各部位叶绿素含量的测定发现,叶绿素含量与光合放氧速率之间没有正相关性     

Significance of structural variation in thylakoid membranes in maintaining functional photosystems during reproductive growth

Structural variation in the stroma‐grana (SG) arrangement of the thylakoid membranes, such as changes in the thickness of the grana stacks and in the ratio between grana and inter‐grana thylakoid, is often observed. Broadly, such alterations are considered acclimation to changes in growth and the environment. However, the relation of thylakoid morphology to plant growth and photosynthesis remains obscure. Here, we report changes in the thylakoid during leaf development under a fixed light condition. Histological studies on the chloroplasts of fresh green Arabidopsis leaves have shown that characteristically shaped thylakoid membranes lacking the inter‐grana region, referred to hereafter as isolated‐grana (IG), occurred adjacent to highly ordered, large grana layers. This morphology was restored to conventional SG thylakoid membranes with the removal of bolting stems from reproductive plants. Statistical analysis showed a negative correlation between the incidences of IG‐type chloroplasts in mesophyll cells and the rates of leaf growth. Fluorescence parameters calculated from pulse‐amplitude modulated fluorometry measurements and CO₂ assimilation data showed that the IG thylakoids had a photosynthetic ability that was equivalent to that of the SG thylakoids under moderate light. However, clear differences were observed in the chlorophyll a/b ratio. The IG thylakoids were apparently an acclimated phenotype to the internal condition of source leaves. The idea is supported by the fact that the life span of the IG thylakoids increased significantly in the later developing leaves. In conclusion, the heterogeneous state of thylakoid membranes is likely important in maintaining photosynthesis during the reproductive phase of growth.     

THE EFFECT OF LIGHT INTENSITY AND TEMPERATURE ON PLANT GROWTH AND CHLOROPLAST ULTRASTRUCTURE IN SOYBEAN

Soybean plants grown in controlled environment cabinets under light intensities of 220 w/m² or 90 w/m² (400–700 nm) and day to night temperatures of 27.5–22.5 C or 20.0–12.5 C in all combinations, exhibited differences in growth rate, leaf anatomy, chloroplast ultrastructure, and leaf starch, chlorophyll, and chloroplast lipid contents. Leaves grown under the lower light intensity at both temperatures had palisade mesophyll chloroplasts containing well-formed grana. The corresponding leaves developed under the higher light intensity had very rudimentary grana. Chloroplasts from high temperature and high light had grana consisting of two or three appressed thylakoids, while grana from the low temperature were confined to occasional thylakoid overlap. Spongy mesophyll chloroplasts were less sensitive to growth conditions. Transfer experiments showed that the ultrastructure of chloroplasts from mature leaves could be modified by changing the conditions, though the effect was less marked than when the leaf was growing.     

Effects of elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> applied to potato roots on the anatomy and ultrastructure of leaves

The root system of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Favorita) plants was treated with different O₂ and CO₂ concentrations for 35 d in aeroponic culture. Under 21 or 5 % O₂ in the root zones, the thickness of leaves and palisade parenchyma significantly increased at 3 600 μmol(CO₂) mol⁻¹ in the root zone, compared with CO₂ concentration 380 μmol mol⁻¹ or low CO₂ concentration (100 μmol mol⁻¹). In addition, smaller cells of palisade tissue, more intercellular air spaces and partially two layers of palisade cells were observed in the leaves with root-zone CO₂ enrichment. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the size of chloroplasts and starch grains, and the number of starch grains per chloroplast due to elevated CO₂ only under 21 % O₂. In addition, a significant decline in the thickness of grana and the number of lamellas, but no significant differences in the number of grana per chloroplast were observed under elevated CO₂ concentration. The accumulation of starch grains in the chloroplast under elevated CO₂ concentration could change the arrangement of grana thylakoids and consequently inhibited the absorption of sun radiation and photosynthesis of potato plants.     

Elevated CO2 induces physiological, biochemical and structural changes in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana

Leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana grown under elevated or ambient CO2 (700 or 370 micromol mol(-1), respectively) were examined for physiological, biochemical and structural changes. Stomatal characters, carbohydrate and mineral nutrient concentrations, leaf ultrastructure and plant hormone content were investigated using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Elevated CO2 reduced the stomatal density and stomatal index of leaves, and also reduced stomatal conductance and transpiration rate. Elevated CO2 increased chloroplast number, width and profile area, and starch grain size and number, but reduced the number of grana thylakoid membranes. Under elevated CO2, the concentrations of carbohydrates and plant hormones, with the exception of abscisic acid, increased whereas mineral nutrient concentrations declined. These results suggest that the changes in chloroplast ultrastructure may primarily be a consequence of increased starch accumulation. Accelerated A. thaliana growth and development in elevated CO2 could in part be attributed to increased foliar concentrations of plant hormones. The reductions in mineral nutrient concentrations may be a result of dilution by increased concentrations of carbohydrates and also of decreases in stomatal conductance and transpiration rate.