Effects of fully open-air [CO2] elevation on leaf ultrastructure, photosynthesis, and yield of two soybean cultivars

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of elevated (550 ± 17 ??mol mol^?1) CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) on leaf ultrastructure, leaf photosynthesis and seed yield of two soybean cultivars [Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Zhonghuang 13 and cv. Zhonghuang 35] at the Free-Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (FACE) experimental facility in North China. Photosynthetic acclimation occurred in soybean plants exposed to long-term elevated [CO₂] and varied with cultivars and developmental stages. Photosynthetic acclimation occurred at the beginning bloom (R1) stage for both cultivars, but at the beginning seed (R5) stage only for Zhonghuang 13. No photosynthetic acclimation occurred at the beginning pod (R3) stage for either cultivar. Elevated [CO₂] increased the number and size of starch grains in chloroplasts of the two cultivars. Soybean leaf senescence was accelerated under elevated [CO₂], determined by unclear chloroplast membrane and blurred grana layer at the beginning bloom (R1) stage. The different photosynthesis response to elevated [CO₂] between cultivars at the beginning seed (R5) contributed to the yield difference under elevated [CO₂]. Elevated [CO₂] significantly increased the yield of Zhonghuang 35 by 26% with the increased pod number of 31%, but not for Zhonghuang 13 without changes of pod number. We conclude that the occurrence of photosynthetic acclimation at the beginning seed (R5) stage for Zhonghuang 13 restricted the development of extra C sink under elevated [CO₂], thereby limiting the response to elevated [CO₂] for the seed yield of this cultivar.     

Fructans,but not the sucrosyl-galactosides,raffinose and loliose,are affected by drought stress in perennial ryegrass

The aim of this study was to evaluate the putative role of the sucrosyl-galactosides, loliose [alpha-D-Gal (1,3) alpha-D-Glc (1,2) beta-D-Fru] and raffinose [alpha-D-Gal (1,6) alpha-D-Glc (1,2) beta-D-Fru], in drought tolerance of perennial ryegrass and to compare it with that of fructans. To that end, the loliose biosynthetic pathway was first established and shown to operate by a UDP-Gal: sucrose (Suc) 3-galactosyltransferase, tentatively termed loliose synthase. Drought stress increased neither the concentrations of loliose and raffinose nor the activities of loliose synthase and raffinose synthase (EC 2.4.1.82). Moreover, the concentrations of the raffinose precursors, myoinositol and galactinol, as well as the gene expressions of myoinositol 1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4) and galactinol synthase (EC 2.4.1.123) were either decreased or unaffected by drought stress. Taken together, these data are not in favor of an obvious role of sucrosyl-galactosides in drought tolerance of perennial ryegrass at the vegetative stage. By contrast, drought stress caused fructans to accumulate in leaf tissues, mainly in leaf sheaths and elongating leaf bases. This increase was mainly due to the accumulation of long-chain fructans (degree of polymerization > 8) and was not accompanied by a Suc increase. Interestingly, Suc but not fructan concentrations greatly increased in drought-stressed roots. Putative roles of fructans and sucrosyl-galactosides are discussed in relation to the acquisition of stress tolerance.     

Epigeic spiders are not affected by the genetically modified maize MON 88017

The genetically modified (GM) maize MON 88017 facilitates weed management owing to its tolerance to glyphosate, and resists western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, owing to the expression of Cry3Bb1 toxin. MON 88017 could therefore contribute to the solution of two major problems of European agriculture: continuous WCR spreading and high use of herbicides. To assess possible unwanted environmental impacts of MON 88017, we compared communities of spiders in plots planted in three successive years with this maize, its near isogenic non‐GM cultivar treated or not treated with an insecticide and two unrelated maize cultivars. Each of the five treatments was applied on five 0.5 ha plots in a 14 ha field. Spiders were collected in five pitfall traps per plot five times per year. Upon reaching the waxy ripening stage, all plants of first‐year cultivation were shredded to small pieces and ploughed into the soil in the respective plot, whereas in the 2nd and 3rd year the harvest was used for biogas production and only digestate was returned to the field. Out of 79 spider species, Pardosa agrestis, Pachygnatha degeeri and Oedothorax apicatus made up 28%, 25% and 23% of the total spider count in the 1st year of study; 2%, 8% and 84% in the 2nd; and 40%, 8% and 35% in the 3rd year. Statistical analysis did not reveal any influence of GM maize on the spider abundance and biodiversity. The abundance, and in two years also the species diversity, was insignificantly higher on the plots with GM maize than on plots with the insecticide‐treated non‐GM maize. The composition and size of spider community varied year to year, probably reflecting weather conditions and differences in field fertilization with organic matter.     

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.     

CO2浓度升高和降水增加协同作用对玉米产量及生长发育的影响

关于[CO₂]升高和降水变化等多因子共同作用对植物的影响报道较少, 制约着人们对植物对全球气候变化响应的认识和预测。玉米(Zea mays)作为重要的C₄植物, 受[CO₂]和降水影响显著, 但鲜有[CO₂]升高和降水增加协同作用对其产量及生长发育影响的报道。该研究利用开顶式生长箱模拟[CO₂]升高(390 (环境)、450和550 μmol·mol^-1), 降水增加量设置为增加自然降水量的15% (以试验地锦州1981-2010年6至8月月平均降水量为基准), 从而形成6个处理: C₅₅₀W_+15%、C₅₅₀W₀、C₄₅₀W_+15%、C₄₅₀W₀、C₃₉₀W_+15%和C₃₉₀W₀。试验材料选用玉米品种‘丹玉39’。结果表明: [CO₂]升高和降水增加的协同作用在玉米的籽粒产量和生物产量上均达到了显著水平(p< 0.05), 二因子均起正作用, 使籽粒产量和生物产量均升高。籽粒产量在[CO₂] 390、450和550 μmol·mol^-1水平下的降水增加处理较自然降水处理分别增加15.94%、9.95%和9.45%, 而生物产量分别增加13.06%、8.13%和6.49%。因为籽粒产量的增幅略大于生物产量的增幅, 所以促进了经济系数的升高。穗部性状变化显著, 其中, 穗粒数、穗粒重、穗长和穗粗等性状值均随[CO₂]升高而升高, 且各[CO₂]水平下均表现为降水增加处理>自然降水处理, 而瘪粒数相反。但是, [CO₂]升高和降水增加的协同作用也促进了轴粗的升高, 对玉米产量的增加起着限制作用。二因子协同作用在净光合速率(P_n)和叶面积上达到了极显著水平(p< 0.01), 而在株高和干物质积累量上达到了显著水平(p< 0.05)。二因子协同作用使玉米叶片的P_n升高, 植株高度升高, 穗位高升高, 茎粗增加, 叶面积变大, 从而促进了干物质积累量的升高, 为玉米增产打下了良好的基础。这表明: 在未来[CO₂]升高条件下, 一定程度的降水增加对玉米的产量具有正向促进作用。     

Rapid responses of mesophyll conductance to changes of CO2 concentration,temperature and irradiance are affected by N supplements in rice

Photosynthesis in C₃ plants is significantly limited by mesophyll conductance (g_m), which can vary with leaf anatomical traits and nitrogen (N) supplements. Several studies have investigated the response of g_m to N supplements; however, none examined the implications of N supplements on the response of g_m to rapid environmental changes. Here we investigated the effect of N supplement on g_m and the response of g_m to change of CO₂, temperature and irradiance in rice. High N supplement (HN) increased mesophyll cell wall surface area and chloroplast surface area exposed to intercellular airspace per leaf area, and reduced cell wall thickness. These changes resulted in increased g_m. The g_m of leaves with HN was more sensitive to changes in CO₂ concentration, temperature and irradiance. The difference in leaf structural features between low N supplement and HN indicates that a rapid change in g_m is related to the regulation of diffusion through biological membranes rather than leaf structural features. These results will contribute to an understanding of the determinants of g_m response to rapid changes in environmental factors.     

Stomatal limitation of photosynthesis as affected by water stress and CO2 concentration

A water stress effect on photosynthesis and transpiration of wheat seedlings at 50-500 µmol(CO2) mol-1 was measured in an open gas exchange system. The limitation of photosynthesis by stomatal conductance was quantified by a stomatal control coefficient of the net photosynthetic rate. The stomatal control coefficient increased linearly as the water potential of root media decreased to -1 MPa, and it decreased with increasing CO2 concentration.     

Hematopoiesis and thymic apoptosis are not affected by the loss of Cdk2

Cell cycle regulation is essential for proper homeostasis of hematopoietic cells. Cdk2 is a major regulator of S phase entry, is activated by mitogenic cytokines, and has been suggested to be involved in antigen-induced apoptosis of T lymphocytes. The role of Cdk2 in hematopoietic cells and apoptosis in vivo has not yet been addressed. To determine whether Cdk2 plays a role in these cells, we performed multiple analyses of bone marrow cells, thymocytes, and splenocytes from Cdk2 knockout mice. We found that Cdk2 is not required in vivo to induce apoptosis in lymphocytes, a result that differs from previous pharmacological in vitro studies. Furthermore, thymocyte maturation was not affected by the lack of Cdk2. We then analyzed the hematopoietic stem cell compartment and found similar proportions of stem cells and progenitors in Cdk2(-)(/)(-) and wild-type animals. Knockouts of Cdk2 inhibitors (p21, p27) affect stem cell renewal, but a competitive graft experiment indicated that renewal and multilineage differentiation are normal in the absence of Cdk2. Finally, we stimulated T lymphocytes or macrophages to induce proliferation and observed normal reactivation of Cdk2(-)(/)(-) quiescent cells. Our results indicate that Cdk2 is not required for proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells in vivo, although in vitro analyses consider Cdk2 to be a major player in proliferation and apoptosis in these cells and a potential target for therapy.     

Impacts of elevated CO2 concentration on the productivity and surface energy budget of the soybean and maize agroecosystem in the Midwest USA

The physiological response of vegetation to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) modifies productivity and surface energy and water fluxes. Quantifying this response is required for assessments of future climate change. Many global climate models account for this response; however, significant uncertainty remains in model simulations of this vegetation response and its impacts. Data from in situ field experiments provide evidence that previous modeling studies may have overestimated the increase in productivity at elevated [CO₂], and the impact on large‐scale water cycling is largely unknown. We parameterized the Agro‐IBIS dynamic global vegetation model with observations from the SoyFACE experiment to simulate the response of soybean and maize to an increase in [CO₂] from 375 ppm to 550 ppm. The two key model parameters that were found to vary with [CO₂] were the maximum carboxylation rate of photosynthesis and specific leaf area. Tests of the model that used SoyFACE parameter values showed a good fit to site‐level data for all variables except latent heat flux over soybean and sensible heat flux over both crops. Simulations driven with historic climate data over the central USA showed that increased [CO₂] resulted in decreased latent heat flux and increased sensible heat flux from both crops when averaged over 30 years. Thirty‐year average soybean yield increased everywhere (ca. 10%); however, there was no increase in maize yield except during dry years. Without accounting for CO₂ effects on the maximum carboxylation rate of photosynthesis and specific leaf area, soybean simulations at 550 ppm overestimated leaf area and yield. Our results highlight important model parameter values that, if not modified in other models, could result in biases when projecting future crop–climate–water relationships.     

Ureolytic activity,physico-chemical properties of soil and maize yield as affected by slurry

Während eines 3jährigen Kleinfeldversuchs wurde der Einfluß der systematischen Düngung mit Rinder-, Schweine- und Schafgülle auf die Menge der Harnstoffbakterien und auf Ureaseaktivitäten in den mit Mais angebauten Böden untersucht.Der beobachtete stimulierende Einfluß der Gülledüngung auf die Entwicklung der untersuchten Bakterien und die Aktivität des Enzyms war von der Gülleart, ihrer Dosis und von der Applikationsfolge abhängig.Die statistische Analyse der Ergebnisse zeigte eine signifikante Abhängigkeit zwischen der Menge und der Enzymaktivität der Harnstoffbakterien im Boden und dem Maisertrag sowie einiger physikalisch-chemischer Eigenschaften des Bodens.     

Analysing the responses of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation to long-term elevation of atmospheric CO2 concentration

Understanding how photosynthetic capacity acclimatises when plants are grown in an atmosphere of rising CO₂ concentrations will be vital to the development of mechanistic models of the response of plant productivity to global environmental change. A limitation to the study of acclimatisation is the small amount of material that may be destructively harvested from long-term studies of the effects of elevation of CO₂ concentration. Technological developments in the measurement of gas exchange, fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy, coupled with theoretical developments in the interpretation of measured values now allow detailed analyses of limitations to photosynthesisin vivo. The use of leaf chambers with Ulbricht integrating spheres allows separation of change in the maximum efficiency of energy transduction in the assimilation of CO₂ from changes in tissue absorptance. Analysis of the response of CO₂ assimilation to intercellular CO₂ concentration allows quantitative determination of the limitation imposed by stomata, carboxylation efficiency, and the rate of regeneration of ribulose 1:5 bisphosphate. Chlorophyll fluorescence provides a rapid method for detecting photoinhibition in heterogeneously illuminated leaves within canopies in the field. Modulated fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy allow parallel measurements of the efficiency of light utilisation in electron transport through photosystems I and IIin situ.Abbreviations A net rate of CO₂ uptke per unit leaf area (µmol m^–2 s^–1) - A_sat light-saturated A - A₈₂₀ change in absorptance of PSI on removal of illumination (OD) - c CO₂ concentration in air (µmol mol^–1) - c_a c in the bulk air; c_i, c in the intercellular spaces - ce carboxylation efficiency (mol m^–2 s^–1) - E transpiration per unit leaf area (mol m^–2 s^–1) - F fluorescence emission of PSII (relative units) - F_m maximal level of F - F_o minimal level of F upon illumination when PSII is maximally oxidised - F_s the steady-state F following the m peak - F_v the difference between F_m and F_o - F'_m maximal F' generated after the m peak by addition of a saturating light pulse - F'_o the minimal level of F' after the m peak determined by re-oxidising PSII by far-red light - g₁ leaf conductance to CO₂ diffusion in the gas phase (mol m^–2 s^–1) - g'₁ leaf conductance to water vapour diffusion in the gas phase (mol m^–2 s^–1) - k_c and k_o the Michaelis constants for CO₂ and O₂, respectively, (µmol mol^–1); - J_max the maximum rate of regeneration of rubP (µmol m^–2 s^–1) - l stomatal limitation to CO₂ uptake (dimensionless, 0–1) - LCP light compensation point of photosynthesis (µmol m^–2 s^–1) - o_i the intercellular O₂ concentration (mmol mol^–1) - Pi cytosol inorganic phosphate concentration - PSI photosystem I - PSII photosystem II - Q photon flux (µmol m^–2 s^–1) - Q_abs Q absorbed by the leaf - rubisCO ribulose 1:5 bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase; rubP, ribulose 1:5 bisphosphate; s, projected surface area of a leaf (m²) - V_c,max is the maximum rate of carboxylation (µmol m^–2 s^–1) - W_c the rubisCO limited rate of carboxylation (µmol m^–2 s¹) - W_j the electron transport limited rate of regeneration of rubP (µmol m^–2 s^–1) - W_p the inorganic phosphate limited rate of regeneration of rubP (µmol m^–2 s^–1) - absorptance of light (dimensionless, 0–1) - _a of standard black absorber ₁, of leaf - _s of integrating sphere walls - , CO₂ compensation point of photosynthesis (µmol mol^–1) - the specificity factor for rubisCO carboxylation (dimensionless) - , convexity of the response of A to Q (dimensionless 0–1) - the quantum yield of photosynthesis on an absorbed light basis (A/Q_abs; dimensionless) - the quantum yield of photosynthesis on an incident light basis (A/Q; dimensionless) - _app the maximum - _m the maximum - _m,app the photochemical efficiency of PSII (dimensionless, 0–1) - _PSII,m the maximum      

Constitutive salicylic acid defences do not compromise seed yield,drought tolerance and water productivity in the Arabidopsis accession C24

Plants that constitutively express otherwise inducible disease resistance traits often suffer a depressed seed yield in the absence of a challenge by pathogens. This has led to the view that inducible disease resistance is indispensable, ensuring that minimal resources are diverted from growth, reproduction and abiotic stress tolerance. The Arabidopsis genotype C24 has enhanced basal resistance, which was shown to be caused by permanent expression of normally inducible salicylic acid (SA)‐regulated defences. However, the seed yield of C24 was greatly enhanced in comparison to disease‐resistant mutants that display identical expression of SA defences. Under both water‐replete and ‐limited conditions, C24 showed no difference and increased seed yield, respectively, in comparison with pathogen‐susceptible genotypes. C24 was the most drought‐tolerant genotype and showed elevated water productivity, defined as seed yield per plant per millilitre water consumed, and achieved this by displaying adjustments to both its development and transpiration efficiency (TE). Therefore, constitutive high levels of disease resistance in C24 do not affect drought tolerance, seed yield and seed viability. This study demonstrates that it will be possible to combine traits that elevate basal disease resistance and improve water productivity in crop species, and such traits need not be mutually exclusive.     

CO2浓度升高对大豆干旱胁迫的缓解效应

CO2浓度升高和干旱带来的气候变化势必对大豆的生长造成影响.目前,CO2浓度升高对干旱胁迫下大豆生理生化的影响研究较少.本试验研究了不同CO2浓度(400、600 pumol ? mol-1)和水分处理下(正常水分:叶片相对含水量为83％-90％;干旱:叶片相对含水量为64％-70％)大豆开花期的光合能力、光合色素积累...     

Control of Photosynthesis in Wheat by CO2, O2 and Light Intensity

The regulation of photosynthesis in wheat leaves under varyingO₂, CO₂, and light was studied by analyzing certain metabolitepools and enzyme activities. Under high light when the rateof photosynthesis was limited by low intercellular levels ofCO₂ (C₁) there was a high level of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate(RuBP) (about 100 nmols per mg chlorophyll). As C, increased,there was a parallel decrease in the ratios of RuBP/3-phosphoglycerate(PGA) (from 0.18 to 0.08 under 21% O₂) and triose-phosphate/PGA(from 0.16 to 0.07 under 21% O₂). The results suggest carboxylationis limited at low C_i, and that there is high carboxylation andlimited assimilatory power at high C_i. As photosynthesis increasedwith increasing Jight intensity under atmospheric levels ofCO₂ the ratios of RuBP/PGA and triosephosphate/PGA remainednearly constant (near 0.12 to 0.13) suggesting there may bea coordinate regulation by light of the different phases ofthe cycle. There was increasing activation of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphatecarboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco) and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase(FBPase) with increasing light intensity. The ways in whichthe light activation of the enzymes Rubisco and FBPase may regulatecarbon metabolism in the cycle are discussed. ¹ Current address: Biological Sciences Center, Desert ResearchInstitute, PO Box 60220, Reno, Nevada 89506, U.S.A. (Received March 24, 1987; Accepted June 23, 1987)     

不同程度干旱对春玉米生物量和产量影响的模拟

为了探究不同强度干旱对春玉米生长过程和产量形成的影响,本文基于WOFOST作物生长模型,分析了内蒙古地区春玉米在拔节-抽雄期和抽雄-乳熟期分别发生不同程度干旱对生物量和产量的影响。结果表明:随着干旱程度的加重,春玉米的灌浆强度、产量、生物量增长量和生物量的降幅均随之加大;复水后,灌浆强度和生物量增长量迅速恢复至无旱水平;相比无旱处理,在轻旱、中旱和重旱处理下,灌浆强度分别下降14.8%~15.4%、40.9%~42.9%和52.4%~60.8%,产量分别下降1.9%~6.1%、9.5%~15.4%和18.6%~25.8%,生物量增长量分别下降12.6%~12.8%,31.0%~35.5%和50.4%~50.8%,生物量分别下降2.9%~6.1%、6.9%~19.4%和12.0%~32.1%;拔节-抽雄期和抽雄-乳熟期两个生育阶段干旱影响的灌浆时段不同,抽雄-乳熟期干旱同时影响灌浆高峰期和衰减期的灌浆强度,故其导致的产量损失更为严重;这2个生育阶段干旱分别影响同化物积累的高峰期和衰减期,拔节-抽雄期干旱影响时间更长,生物量的降幅更为明显。     

Three maize root-specific genes are not correctly expressed in regenerated caps in the absence of the quiescent center

The quiescent center is viewed as an architectural template in the root apical meristem of all angiosperm and gymnosperm root tips. In roots of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., the quiescent center inhibits differentiation of contacting initial cells and maintains the surrounding initial cells as stem cells. Here, the role of the quiescent center in the development of the maize (Zea mays L.) root cap has been further explored. Three maize root-specific genes were identified. Two of these were exclusively expressed in the root cap and one of them encoded a GDP-mannose-4,6-dehydratase. Most likely these two genes are structural, tissue-specific markers of the cap. The third gene, a putative glycine-rich cell wall protein, was expressed in the cap and in the root epidermis and, conceivably is a positional marker of the cap. Microsurgical and molecular data indicate that the quiescent center and cap initials may regulate the positional and structural expression of these genes in the cap and thereby control root cap development. Received: 22 September 1999 / Accepted: 9 November 1999     

高CO2浓度、干旱及其互作对不同持绿型小麦幼苗的影响

以小麦持绿型品种‘烟农19'和非持绿型品种‘旱选3号'为试材,在开放式气室(OTC)内设置正常CO₂浓度(370 μmol·mol^-1)和高CO₂浓度(550 μmol·mol^-1),干旱(田间持水量的45%～55%)和灌溉(田间持水量的75%～85%),共4个环境处理,采用盆栽法研究高CO₂浓度、干旱及其互作对不同持绿型小麦幼苗生长性状、生物量积累和生理性状的影响。结果表明: 干旱显著抑制了小麦幼苗的生长发育;高CO₂浓度对小麦幼苗的生长发育有明显的促进作用,对分蘖数的影响更显著,干旱条件下高CO₂浓度使旱选3号和烟农19的分蘖数分别增加了61.0%和42.3%。两种水分条件下,高CO₂浓度显著增加了小麦幼苗的生物量,降低了幼苗叶片过氧化物酶和脯氨酸的含量。干旱条件下,高CO₂浓度表现出更好的“肥效作用”。此外,不同持绿型小麦品种对高CO₂浓度的响应存在差异,旱选3号对CO₂的响应更敏感。因此,在未来气候变化背景下,CO₂浓度升高时可以适当减少田间灌水量,合理利用水资源,还需注意选择适宜的品种。     

Nitrogen application is required to realize wheat yield stimulation by elevated CO2 but will not remove the CO2‐induced reduction in grain protein concentration

Elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) generally promotes increased grain yield (GY) and decreased grain protein concentration (GPC), but the extent to which these effects depend on the magnitude of fertilization remains unclear. We collected data on the eCO₂ responses of GY, GPC and grain protein yield and their relationships with nitrogen (N) application rates across experimental data covering 11 field grown wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars studied in eight countries on four continents. The eCO₂‐induced stimulation of GY increased with N application rates up to ~200 kg/ha. At higher N application, stimulation of GY by eCO₂ stagnated or even declined. This was valid both when the yield stimulation was expressed as the total effect and using per ppm CO₂ scaling. GPC was decreased by on average 7% under eCO₂ and the magnitude of this effect did not depend on N application rate. The net effect of responses on GY and protein concentration was that eCO₂ typically increased and decreased grain protein yield at N application rates below and above ~100 kg/ha respectively. We conclude that a negative effect on wheat GPC seems inevitable under eCO₂ and that substantial N application rates may be required to sustain wheat protein yields in a world with rising CO₂.     

Regulation of hormonal responses of sweet pepper as affected by salinity and elevated CO2 concentration

This study examines the extent to which the predicted CO₂‐protective effects on the inhibition of growth, impairment of photosynthesis and nutrient imbalance caused by saline stress are mediated by an effective adaptation of the endogenous plant hormonal balance. Therefore, sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum, cv. Ciclón) were grown at ambient or elevated [CO₂] (400 or 800 µmol mol^–1) with a nutrient solution containing 0 or 80 mM NaCl. The results show that, under saline conditions, elevated [CO₂] increased plant dry weight, leaf area, leaf relative water content and net photosynthesis compared with ambient [CO₂], whilst the maximum potential quantum efficiency of photosystem II was not modified. In salt‐stressed plants, elevated [CO₂] increased leaf NO₃^– concentration and reduced Cl^– concentration. Salinity stress induced ABA accumulation in the leaves but it was reduced in the roots at high [CO₂], being correlated with the stomatal response. Under non‐stressed conditions, IAA was dramatically reduced in the roots when high [CO₂] was applied, which resulted in greater root DW and root respiration. Additionally, the observed high CK concentration in the roots (especially tZR) could prevent downregulation of photosynthesis at high [CO₂], as the N level in the leaves was increased compared with the ambient [CO₂], under salt‐stress conditions. These results demonstrate that the hormonal balance was altered by the [CO₂], which resulted in significant changes at the growth, gas exchange and nutritional levels.