Influence of modified oxygen and carbon dioxide atmospheres on mint and thyme plant growth, morphogenesis and secondary metabolism in vitro

. Growth (fresh weight) and morphogenesis (production of leaves, roots and shoots) of mint (Mentha sp. L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) shoots were determined under atmospheres of 5%, 10%, 21%, 32%, or 43% O₂ with either 350 or 10,000 µmol mol^-1 CO₂. Plants were grown in vitro on Murashige and Skoog salts, 3% sucrose and 0.8% agar under a 16/8-h (day/night) photoperiod with a light intensity of 180 µmol s^-1 m^-2. Growth and morphogenesis responses varied considerably for the two plant species tested depending on the level of O₂ administered. Growth was considerably enhanced for both species under all O₂ levels tested when 10,000 µmol mol^-1 CO₂ was added as compared to growth responses obtained at the same O₂ levels tested with 350 µmol mol^-1 CO₂. Mint shoots exhibited high growth and morphogenesis responses for all O₂ levels tested with 10,000 µmol mol^-1 CO₂. In contrast, thyme shoots exhibited enhanced growth and morphogenesis when cultured in ₁% O₂ with 10,000 µmol mol^-1 CO₂ included compared to shoots cultured under lower O₂ levels. Essential oil compositions (i.e. monoterpene, piperitenone oxide from mint and aromatic phenol, thymol from thyme) were analyzed from CH₂Cl₂ extracts via gas chromatography from the shoot portion of plants grown at all O₂ levels. The highest levels of thymol were produced from thyme shoots cultured under 10% and 21% O₂ with 10,000 µmol mol^-1 CO_2,and levels were considerably lower in shoots grown under either lower or higher O₂ levels. Higher levels of piperitenone oxide were obtained from mint cultures grown under ₁% O₂ with 10,000 µmol mol^-1 CO₂ compared to that obtained with lower O₂ levels.     

Differentiating Day from Night Effects of High Ambient [CO2] on the Gas Exchange and Growth of Xanthium strumarium L. Exposed to Salinity Stress

Sodium chloride, at a concentration of 88 mol m^-3in half strengthHoagland nutrient solution, increased dry weight per unit areaofXanthium strumarium L. leaves by 19%, and chlorophyll by 45%compared to plants grown without added NaCl at ambient (350µmol mol^-1) CO₂concentration. Photosynthesis, per unitleaf area, was almost unaffected. Even so, over a 4-week period,growth (dry weight increment) was reduced in the salt treatmentby 50%. This could be ascribed to a large reduction in leafarea (>60%) and to an approx. 20% increase in the rate ofdark respiration (Rd). Raising ambient [CO₂] from zero to 2000 µmol mol^-1decreasedRd in both control and salinized plants (by 20% at 1000, andby 50% at 2000 µmol mol^-1CO₂concentration) compared toRd in the absence of ambient CO₂. High night-time [CO₂] hadno significant effect on growth of non-salinized plants, irrespectiveof day-time ambient [CO₂]. Growth reduction caused by salt wasreduced from 51% in plants grown in 350 µmol mol^-1throughoutthe day, to 31% in those grown continuously in 900 µmolmol^-1[CO₂]. The effect of [CO₂] at night on salinized plants depended onthe daytime CO₂concentration. Under 350 µmol mol^-1day-time[CO₂], 900 µmol mol^-1at night reduced growth over a 4-weekperiod by 9% (P <0.05) and 1700 µmol mol^-1reduced itby 14% (P <0.01). However, under 900 µmol mol^-1day-time[CO₂], 900vs . 350 µmol mol^-1[CO₂] at night increasedgrowth by 17% (P <0.01). It is concluded that there is both a functional and an otiose(functionless) component to Rd, which is increased by salt.Under conditions of low photosynthesis (such as here, in thelow day-time [CO₂] regime) the otiose component is small andhigh night-time [CO₂] partly suppresses functional Rd, therebyreducing salt tolerance. In plants growing under conditionswhich stimulate photosynthesis (e.g. with increased daytime[CO₂]), elevated [CO₂] at night suppresses mainly the otiosecomponent of respiration, thus increasing growth. Consequently,in regions of adequate water and sunlight, the predicted furtherelevation of the world atmospheric [CO₂] may increase plantsalinity tolerance. Xanthium strumarium ; respiration; photosynthesis; salt stress; sodium chloride; carbon dioxide; atmosphere     

Long Term Effects of High CO2 Concentration on Photosynthesis of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms)

The photosynthetic response to CO₂ concentration, light intensityand temperature was investigated in water hyacinth plants (Eichhorniacrassipes (Mart.) Solms) grown in summer at ambient CO₂ or at10000 µmol(CO₂) mol^–1 and in winter at 6000 µmol(CO₂)mol^–1 Plants grown and measured at ambient CO₂ had highphotosynthetic rate (35 µmo1(CO₂) m^–2 s^–1),high saturating photon flux density (1500–2000) µmolm^–2 s^–1 and low sensitivity to temperature in therange 20–40 °C. Maximum photosynthetic rate (63 µmol(CO₂)m^–2 s^–1) was reached at an internal CO₂ concentrationof 800 µmol mol^–1. Plants grown at high CO₂ in summerhad photosynthetic capacities at ambient CO₂ which were 15%less than for plants grown at ambient CO₂, but maximum photosyntheticrates were similar. Photosynthesis by plants grown at high CO₂and high light intensity had typical response curves to internalCO₂ concentration with saturation at high CO₂, but for plantsgrown under high CO₂ and low light and plants grown under lowCO₂ and high light intensity photosynthetic rates decreasedsharply at internal CO₂ concentrations above 1000 µmol^–1. Key words: Photosynthesis, CO₂, enrichment, Eichhornia crassipes     

Web-FACE: a new canopy free-air CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> enrichment system for tall trees in mature forests

The long-term responses of forests to atmospheric CO₂ enrichment have been difficult to determine experimentally given the large scale and complex structure of their canopy. We have developed a CO₂ exposure system that uses the free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) approach but was designed for tall canopy trees. The system consists of a CO₂-release system installed within the crown of adult trees using a 45-m tower crane, a CO₂ monitoring system and an automated regulation system. Pure CO₂ gas is released from a network of small tubes woven into the forest canopy (web-FACE), and CO₂ is emitted from small laser-punched holes. The set point CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) of 500 µmol mol^-1 is controlled by a pulse-width modulation routine that adjusts the rate of CO₂ injection as a function of measured [CO₂] in the canopy. CO₂ consumption for the enrichment of 14 tall canopy trees was about 2 tons per day over the whole growing season. The seasonal daytime mean CO₂ concentration was 520 µmol mol^-1. One-minute averages of CO₂ measurements conducted at canopy height in the center of the CO₂-enriched zone were within ᆨ% and ᆞ% of the target concentration for 76% and 47% of the exposure time, respectively. Despite the size of the canopy and the windy site conditions, performance values correspond to about 75% of that reported for conventional forest FACE with the added advantage of a much simpler and less intrusive infrastructure. Stable carbon isotope signals captured by 80 Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) seedlings distributed within the canopy of treated and control tree districts showed a clearly delineated area, with some nearby individuals having been exposed to a gradient of [CO₂], which is seen as added value. Time-integrated values of [CO₂] derived from the C isotope composition of C. dactylon leaves indicated a mean (-SD) concentration of 513ᇓ µmol mol^-1 in the web-FACE canopy area. In view of the size of the forest and the rough natural canopy, web-FACE is a most promising avenue towards natural forest experiments, which are greatly needed.     

Carbon Dioxide Effects on Carbohydrate Status and Partitioning in Rice

The atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration has beenrising and is predicted to reach double the present concentrationsometime during the next century. The objective of this investigationwas to determine the long-term effects of different CO₂ concentrationson carbohydrate status and partitioning in rice (Oryza sativaL cv. IR-30). Rice plants were grown season-long in outdoor,naturally sunlit, environmentally controlled growth chamberswith CO₂ concentrations of 160, 250, 330, 500, 660, and 900µmolCO₂ mol¹ air. In leaf blades, the priority between the partitioningof carbon into storage carbohydrates or into export changedwith developmental stage and CO₂ concentration. During vegetativegrowth, leaf sucrose and starch concentrations increased withincreasing CO₂ concentration but tended to level off above 500µmolmol^–1 CO₂. Similarly, photosynthesis also increased withCO2 concentrations up to 500µmol mol^–1 and thenreached a plateau at higher concentrations. The ratio of starchto sucrose concentration was positively correlated with theCO₂ concentration. At maturity, increasing CO₂ concentrationresulted in an increase in total non-structural carbohydrate(TNC) concentration in leaf blades, leaf sheaths and culms.Carbohydrates that were stored in vegetative plant parts beforeheading made a smaller contribution to grain dry weight at CO₂concentrations below 330µmol mol^–1 than for treatmentsat concentrations above ambient Increasing CO₂ concentrationhad no effect on the carbohydrate concentration in the grainat maturity Key words: CO₂ enrichment, starch, sucrose     

In situ oxygen microelectrode measurements of bottom-ice algal production in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

In-situ estimates of fast-ice algal productivity at Cape Evans, McMurdo Sound, in 1999 were lower than at the same site in previous years. Under-ice irradiance was between 0 and 8 µmol photons m^-2 s^-1; the ice was between 1.9 and 2.0 m thick and the algal biomass averaged 150 mg chl a m^-2, although values as high as 378 mg chl a m^-2 were recorded. Production on 11 and 12 November was between 0.053 and 1.474 mg C m^-2 h^-1. When the data from 11 November were fitted to a hyperbolic tangent function, a multilinear regression gave estimates for P_max of 0.571 nmol O₂ cm^-2 s^-1, an ! of 0.167 nmol O₂ cm^-2 s^-1 µmol^-1 photons m^-2 s^-1 and an E_k of 3.419 µmol photons m^-2 s^-1. A P_max of 2.674 nmol O₂ cm^-2 s^-1, an ! of 0.275 nmol O₂ cm^-2 s^-1 µmol^-1 photons m^-2 s^-1, r of 0.305 nmol O₂ cm^-2 s^-1 and an E_k of 9.724 µmol^-1 photons m^-2 s^-1 were estimated from the 12 November data. The sea-ice algal community was principally comprised of Nitzschia stellata, Entomoneis kjellmanii and Berkeleya adeliensis. Other taxa present included N. lecointei, Fragilariopsis spp., Navicula glaciei, Pleurosigma spp. and Amphora spp. Variations in the method for estimating the thickness of the diffusive boundary layer were not found to significantly affect the measurements of oxygen flux. However, the inability to accurately measure fine-scale variations in biomass is thought to contribute to the scatter of the P versus E data.     

Microbial community composition and function beneath temperate trees exposed to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and ozone

We hypothesized that changes in plant growth resulting from atmospheric CO₂ and O₃ enrichment would alter the flow of C through soil food webs and that this effect would vary with tree species. To test this idea, we traced the course of C through the soil microbial community using soils from the free-air CO₂ and O₃ enrichment site in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. We added either ¹³C-labeled cellobiose or ¹³C-labeled N-acetylglucosamine to soils collected beneath ecologically distinct temperate trees exposed for 3 years to factorial CO₂ (ambient and 200 µl l^-1 above ambient) and O₃ (ambient and 20 µl l^-1 above ambient) treatments. For both labeled substrates, recovery of ¹³C in microbial respiration increased beneath plants grown under elevated CO₂ by 29% compared to ambient; elevated O₃ eliminated this effect. Production of ¹³C-CO₂ from soils beneath aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and aspen-birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) was greater than that beneath aspen-maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.). Phospholipid fatty acid analyses (¹³C-PLFAs) indicated that the microbial community beneath plants exposed to elevated CO₂ metabolized more ¹³C-cellobiose, compared to the microbial community beneath plants exposed to the ambient condition. Recovery of ¹³C in PLFAs was an order of magnitude greater for N-acetylglucosamine-amended soil compared to cellobiose-amended soil, indicating that substrate type influenced microbial metabolism and soil C cycling. We found that elevated CO₂ increased fungal activity and microbial metabolism of cellobiose, and that microbial processes under early-successional aspen and birch species were more strongly affected by CO₂ and O₃ enrichment than those under late-successional maple.     

Elevated CO2 influences nutrient availability in young beech-spruce communities on two soil types

The objectives of this study were to investigate how different soil types and elevated N deposition (0.7 vs 7 g N m^-2a^-1) influence the effects of elevated CO₂ (370 vs 570 µmol CO₂ mol^-1) on soil nutrients and net accumulation of N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn in spruce (Picea abies) and beech (Fagus sylvatica). Model ecosystems were established in large open-top chambers on two different forest soils: a nutrient-poor acidic loam and a nutrient-rich calcareous sand. The response of net nutrient accumulation to elevated atmospheric CO₂ depended upon soil type (interaction soil 2 CO₂, P<0.05 for N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Zn) and differed between spruce and beech. On the acidic loam, CO₂ enrichment suppressed net accumulation of all nutrients in beech (P<0.05 for P, S, Zn), but stimulated it for spruce (P<0.05 for Fe, Zn) On the nutrient-rich calcareous sand, increased atmospheric CO₂ enhanced nutrient accumulation in both species significantly. Increasing the N deposition did not influence the CO₂ effects on net nutrient accumulation with either soil. Under elevated atmospheric CO₂, the accumulation of N declined relative to other nutrients, as indicated by decreasing ratios of N to other nutrients in tree biomass (all ratios: P<0.001, except the N to S ratio). In both the soil and soil solution, elevated CO₂ did not influence concentrations of base cations and available P. Under CO₂ enrichment, concentrations of exchangeable NH₄⁺ decreased by 22% in the acidic loam and increased by 50% in the calcareous sand (soil 2 CO₂, P<0.001). NO₃^- concentrations decreased by 10-70% at elevated CO₂ in both soils (P<0.01).     

The Interactive Effects of Carbon Dioxide Enrichment and Daylength on Growth and Development inPetunia hybrida

Plants were grown at either 350 or 1000 µl l^-1CO₂and inone of three photoperiod treatments: continuous short days (SD),continuous long days (LD), or short switched to long days atday 41 (SD–LD). All plants received 9 h of light at 450µmol m^-2s^-1and LD plants received an additional 4 h oflight at 8 µmol m^-2s^-1. Growth of SD plants respondedmore positively to elevated CO₂than did LD plants, due largelyto differences in the effect of CO₂on unit leaf rate. High CO₂increasedheight and decreased branching under SD conditions, but hadno effect under LD conditions. Elevated CO₂also increased thenumber of buds and open flowers, the effect for flower numberbeing greater in short than in long days. The specific leafarea of plants grown at 1000 µl l^-1CO₂was reduced regardlessof daylength. High CO₂also decreased leaf and increased reproductiveallocation, the magnitude of these effects being greater underSD conditions. Bud formation and flower opening was advancedunder high CO₂conditions in SD plants but bud formation wasdelayed and there was no effect on flower opening under LD conditions.The effects of CO₂on plants switched from SD to LD conditionswere largely intermediate between the two continuous treatments,but for some parameters, more closely resembled one or the other.The results illustrate that daylength is an important factorcontrolling response of plants to elevated CO₂. Petunia hybridaHort. ex Vilm; carbon dioxide; photoperiod; functional growth analysis; daylength; global change; development; phenology     

Feeding rates of the woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare on herb litters produced at two levels of atmospheric CO2

The consumption and assimilation rates of the woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare were measured on leaf litters from five herb species grown and naturally senesced at 350 and 700 µl l^-1 CO₂. Each type of litter was tested separately after 12, 30 and 45 days of decomposition at 18°C. The effects of elevated CO₂ differed depending on the plant species. In Medicago minima (Fabaceae), the CO₂ treatment had no significant effect on consumption and assimilation. In Tyrimnus leucographus (Asteraceae), the CO₂ treatment had no significant effect on consumption, but the elevated CO₂ litter was assimilated at a lower rate than the ambient CO₂ litter after 30 days of decomposition. In the three other species, Galactites tomentosa (Asteraceae), Trifolium angustifolium (Fabaceae) and Lolium rigidum (Poaceae), the elevated CO₂ litter was consumed and/or assimilated at a higher rate than the ambient CO₂ litter. Examination of the nitrogen contents in these three species of litter did not support the hypothesis of compensatory feeding, i.e. an increase in woodlouse consumption to compensate for low nitrogen content of the food. Rather, the results suggest that in herbs that were unpalatable at the start of the experiment (Galactites, Trifolium and Lolium), more of the the litter produced at 700 µl l^-1 CO₂ was consumed than of that produced at 350 µl l^-1 because inhibitory factors were eliminated faster during decomposition.     

Changes in the Morphology of Roots and Leaves of Carob Seedlings Induced by Nitrogen Source and Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

Carob seedlings were grown hydroponically for 9 weeks under360 and 800 µl l^-1CO₂. One of two nitrogen sources, nitrateor ammonium, was added to the nutrient medium at concentrationsof 3 mol m^-3. Root systems of the developing plants suppliedwith nitrate compared to those supplied with ammonium were characterizedby:(a)more biomass on the lower part of the root;(b)fewer lateralroots of first and second order;(c)longer roots;(d)higher specificroot length;(e)a smaller root diameter. The morphology of theroot systems of nitrate-fed plants changed in the presence ofelevated carbon dioxide concentrations, resembling, more closely,that of ammonium-fed plants. Total leaf area was higher in ammonium-than in nitrate-fed plants. Nitrate-fed plants had greater totalleaf area in the presence of high carbon dioxide than in normalCO₂, due to an increase in epidermal cell size that led to developmentof larger leaflets with lower stomatal frequency. The observedchanges in the morphology of roots and shoots agreed with theresults observed for total biomass production. Nitrate-fed plantsincreased their biomass production by 100% in the presence ofelevated CO₂compared to 15% in ammonium-fed plants, indicatingthat the response of carob to high CO₂concentrations is verydependent on the nitrogen source. Under elevated CO₂, nitrate-grownplants had a larger content of sucrose in both roots and shoots,while no significant difference was observed in the contentof sucrose in ammonium-grown plants, whether in ambient or enrichedcarbon dioxide. Hence, the differences in soluble carbohydratecontents can, at least partly, account for differences in rootand shoot morphology.Copyright 1997 Annals of Botany Company Ceratonia siliquaL.; carob; ammonium; carbohydrate; carbon dioxide; nitrate; morphology; sucrose     

Gas Exchange and Carbohydrate and Nitrogen Concentrations in Leaves of Pascopyrum smithii (C3) and Bouteloua gracilis (C4) at Different Carbon Dioxide Concentrations and Temperatures

Pascopyrum smithii (C₃) andBouteloua gracilis (C₄) are importantforage grasses native to the Colorado shortgrass steppe. Thisstudy investigated photosynthetic responses of these grassesto long-term CO₂enrichment and temperature in relation to leafnonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) and [N]. Glasshouse-grown seedlingswere transferred to growth chambers and grown for 49 d at twoCO₂concentrations (380 and 750 µmol mol^-1) at 20 and 35°C, and two additional temperatures (25 and 30 °C) at750 µmol mol^-1CO₂. Leaf CO₂exchange rate (CER) was measuredat a plant's respective growth temperature and at two CO₂concentrationsof approx. 380 and 700 µmol mol^-1. Long-term CO₂enrichmentstimulated CER in both species, although the response was greaterin the C₃,P. smithii . Doubling the [CO₂] from 380 to 750 µmolmol^-1stimulated CER ofP. smithii slightly more in plants grownand measured at 30 °C compared to plants grown at 20, 25or 35 °C. CO₂-enriched plants sometimes exhibited lowerCER when compared to ambient-grown controls measured at thesame [CO₂], indicating photosynthetic acclimation to CO₂growthregime. InP. smithii , such reductions in CER were associatedwith increases in TNC and specific leaf mass, reductions inleaf [N] and, in one instance, a reduction in leaf conductancecompared to controls. InB. gracilis , photosynthetic acclimationwas observed more often, but significant changes in leaf metabolitelevels from growth at different [CO₂] were generally less evident.Temperatures considered optimal for growth (C₃: 20 °C; C₄:35 °C) sometimes led to CO₂-induced accumulations of TNCin both species, with starch accumulating in the leaves of bothspecies, and fructans accumulating only inP. smithii. Photosynthesisof both species is likely to be enhanced in future CO₂-enrichedand warmer environments, although responses will sometimes beattenuated by acclimation. Acclimation; blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag ex Steud.); leaf nitrogen concentration; nonstructural carbohydrates; photosynthesis; western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) Love)     

Soil microbial community and bacterial functional diversity at Machu Picchu, King George Island, Antarctica

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential contribution of the soil microbial community in the vicinity of two plant covers, Sanionia uncinata and Deschampsia antarctica, at Machu Picchu Station, King George Island, Antarctica. Soil samples were collected at the study site during the southern (pole) summer period from 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm depths, for chemical and biological analyses. Soil microbial biomass reached a maximal value of 144 µg g^-1 in soil samples taken from under the S. uncinata upper layer plant. qCO₂ ranged from 167 to 239 µg CO₂^.mgC_mic^.h^-1 at the 0-5 and 5-10 cm depths, respectively. CO₂ evolution showed values of 54.3 mg^.m^-2 h^-1 beneath plant cover and 55.9 mg^.m^-2 h^-1 in the open space. CO₂ evolved by substrate induced respiration in the soil samples taken under the plant cover in the summer period, oscillated between 0.25 and 4.78 µg CO₂ g^-1 h^-1. The data obtained from this short study may provide evidence that both activity and the composition and substrate utilization of the microbial community appear to change substantially across the moisture level and sample location.     

Regeneration of Lonicera tatarica plants via adventitious organogenesis from cultured stem explants

We describe an efficient process for the regeneration of Lonicera tatarica plants from cultured stem sections. Induction of multiple shoots was achieved directly from cultured stem cuttings. The highest regeneration rate was achieved on Gamborg's B5 medium supplemented with 4% sucrose and 0.8% Difco bacto-agar in the absence of hormones. Differentiated shoots were elongated for 5-7 days on induction medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l GA₃. Shoot induction and elongation experiments were carried out using original stem explants from either 2-, 6-, or 18-month-old donor plants. The age of the donor plant had no noticeable effect on either process. However, rooting of elongated shoots occurred only with shoots derived from 2-month-old donor plants. Rooting efficiency and proliferation were highest on half-strength WPM medium supplemented with 2 µM indole-3-butyric acid and 0.6% Keylis agar. The plants regenerated from stem explants were morphologically normal, and levels of loganin and secologanin were comparable to those detected in plants grown from seed and maintained through vegetative propagation.     

Effect of elevated CO2 on the utilization of light energy in Nothofagus fusca and Pinus radiata

Red beech (Nothofagus fusca (Hook. F.) Oerst.; Fagaceae) andradiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don; Pinaceae) were grown for16 months in large open-top chambers at ambient (37 Pa) andelevated (66 Pa) atmospheric partial pressure of CO₂, and incontrol plots (no chamber). Summer-time measurements showedthat photosynthetic capacity was similar at elevated CO₂ (lightand CO₂-saturated value of 17.2 µmol m^–2 s^–1for beech, 13.5 µmol m^–2 s^–1 for pine), plantsgrown at ambient CO₂ (beech 21.0 µmol^–2 s^–1,pine 14.9 µmol m^–2s^–1) or control plants grownwithout chambers (beech 23.2 µmol m^–2 s^–1,pine 12.9 µmol m^–2 s^–1). However, the higherCO₂ partial pressure had a direct effect on photosynthetic rate,such that under their respective growth conditions, photosynthesisfor the elevated CO₂ treatment (measured at 70 Pa CO₂ partialpressure: beech 14.1 µmol m^–2 s^–1 pine 10.3)was greater than in ambient (measured at 35 Pa CO₂: beech 9.7µmol m^–2 s^–1, pine 7.0 µmol m^–2s^–1) or control plants (beech 10.8 µmol m^–2s^–1, pine 7.2 µmol m^–2 s^–1). Measurementsof chlorophyll fluorescence revealed no evidence of photodamagein any treatment for either species. The quantity of the photoprotectivexanthophyll cycle pigments and their degree of de-epoxidationat midday did not differ among treatments for either species.The photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (yield) was lowerin control plants than in chamber-grown plants, and was higherin chamber plants at ambient than at elevated CO₂. These resultssuggest that at lower (ambient) CO₂ partial pressure, beechplants may have dissipated excess energy by a mechanism thatdoes not involve the xanthophyll cycle pigments. Key words: Carotenoids, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthesis, photoinhibition, photoprotection, xanthophyll cycle     

Response of young barley plants to CO2 enrichment

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Digger) was grown for 22 d inenclosed chambers with a CO₂ enrichment of 35, 155, 400 or 675µmol CO₂ mol1. CO₂ enrichment increased photosyntheticcapacity in the plants grown at either of the two highest levelsof pCO₂. A CO₂ enrichment of 675µmol CO₂ caused a significantincrement of shoot dry weight, whereas no changes were observedin fresh weight, chlorophyll or protein levels. At a light intensityof 860µmol m^–2s^–1 CO₂ enrichment caused photosyntheticcapacity to increase by 250%, whereas no effect was observedat 80 µmol m^–2 s^–1. Over time, photosynthesisdecreased by 70% independent of CO₂. A time-dependent increasein the level of extractable fructose was observed whereas totalextractable carbohydrate only changed slightly. Key words: Carbohydrates, CO₂ enrichment, Hordeum vulgare, photosynthesis, respiration     

Response of Photosynthesis, Stomatal Conductance and Water Use Efficiency to Elevated CO2 and Nutrient Supply in Acclimated Seedlings of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Plants of Phaseolus vulgaris L were grown from seed in open-topgrowth chambers at present day (350 µmol mol^–1)and double the present day (700 µmol mol^–1) atmosphericCO₂ concentration with either low (L, without additional nutrientsolution) or relatively high (H, with additional nutrient solution)nutrient supply Measurements of assimilation rate, stomatalconductance and water use efficiency were started 17 d aftersowing on each fully expanded, primary leaf of three plantsper treatment Measurements were made in external CO₂ concentrations(C₂) of 200, 350, 450, 550 and 700 µmol mol^–1 andrelated to both C_a and to C₁, the mean intercellular space CO₂concentration Fully adjusted, steady state measurements weremade after approx 2 h equilibration at each CO₂ concentration The rate of CO₂ assimilation by leaves increased and stomatalconductance decreased similarly over the range of C_a or C₁ inall four CO₂ and nutrient supply treatments but both assimilationrate and stomatal conductance were higher in the high nutrientsupply treatment than in the low nutrient treatment The relationbetween assimilation rate or stomatal conductance and C₁ wasnot significantly different amongst plants grown in present-dayor elevated CO₂ concentration in either nutrient supply treatment,i e there was no evidence of down regulation of photosynthesisor stomatal response Increase in CO₂ concentration from 350to 700 µmol mol^–1 doubled water use efficiency ofindividual leaves in the high nutrient supply treatment andtripled water use efficiency in the low nutrient supply treatment The results support the hypothesis that acclimation phenomenaresult from unbalanced growth that occurs after the seed reservesare exhausted, when the supply of resources becomes growth limiting CO₂ enrichment, Phaseolus vulgaris L., net CO₂ assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency     

Photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2 in poplar grown in glasshouse cabinets or in open top chambers depends on duration of exposure

The effects of elevated CO₂ were studied on the photosyntheticgas exchange behaviour and leaf physiology of two contrastingpoplar (Populus) hybrids grown and treated in open top chambers(OTCs in Antwerp, Belgium) and in closed glasshouse cabinets(GHCs in Sussex, UK). The CO₂ concentrations used in the OTCswere ambient and ambient +350 µmol mol^–1 while inthe GHCs they were c. 360 µmol mol^–1 versus 719µmol mol^–1. Measurements of photosynthetic gas exchangewere made for euramerican and interamerican poplar hybrids incombination with measurements of dark respiration rate and Rubiscoactivity. Significant differences in the leaf anatomy and structure(leaf mass per area and chlorophyll content) were observed betweenthe leaves grown in the OTCs and those grown in the GHCs. ElevatedCO₂ stimulated net photosynthesis in the poplar hybrids after1 month in the GHCs and after 4 months in the OTCs, and therewas no evidence of downward acclimation (or down-regulation)of photosynthesis when the plants in the two treatments weremeasured in their growth CO₂ concentration. There was also noevidence of down-regulation of Rubisco activity and there wereeven examples of increases in Rubisco activity. Rubisco exerteda strong control over the light-saturated rate of photosynthesis,which was demonstrated by the close agreement between observednet photosynthetic rates and those that were predicted fromRubisco activities and Michaelis-Menten kinetics. After 17 monthsin elevated CO₂ in the OTCs there was a significant loss ofRubisco activity for one of the hybrid clones, i.e. Beaupr,but not for clone Robusta. The effect of the CO₂ measurementconcentration (i.e. the short-term treatment effect) on netphotosynthesis was always larger than the effect of the growthconcentration in both the OTCs or GHCs (i.e. the longterm growthCO₂ effect), with one exception. For the interamerican hybridBeaupr dark respiration rates in the OTCs were not significantlyaffected by the elevated CO₂ concentrations. The results suggestthat for rapidly growing tree species, such as poplars, thereis little evidence for downward acclimation of photosynthesiswhen plants are exposed to elevated CO₂ for up to 4 months;longer term exposure reveals loss of Rubisco activity. Key words: Elevated CO₂, Populus, Rubisco, photosynthesis, chlorophyll content     

Plant allocation to defensive compounds: interactions between elevated CO2 and nitrogen in transgenic cotton plants

Plant allocation to defensive compounds in response to growthin elevated atmospheric CO₂ in combination with two levels ofnitrogen was examined. The aim was to discover if allocationpatterns of transgenic plants containing genes for defensivechemicals which had not evolved in the species would respondas predicted by the Carbon Nutrient Balance (CNB) hypothesis.Cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum L.) were sown inside 12 environmentalchambers. Six of them were maintained at an elevated CO₂ levelof 900 µmol mol^-1 and the other six at the current levelof     

CO2 Assimilation and Partitioning of Carbon in Maize Plants Deprived of Orthophosphate

In order to study the effects of inorganic phosphate (P1) starvationon C₄plants, 3-week-old maize plants (Zea maysL cv. Brulouis)were grown in a growth chamber on a nutrient solution withoutP1 over 22 d During the first 2 weeks, Pi-starved plants grewas well as control plants The Pi concentration in the planttissue decreased rapidly with time, which suggests that normalbiomass production can be maintained at the expense of internalP1 In addition, photosynthetic CO2 assimilation measured 4-6h after dawn was not affected, but the concentration of glucose,sucrose, and starch in leaves was much higher than in the controls¹⁴CO₂ pulse-chase experiments earned out on the ninth day oftreatment showed that ¹⁴CO₂ assimilation was perturbed duringthis initial period, resulting in a larger flow of carbon toboth starch and sucrose At the beginning of the third week ofP1 starvation (15 d after treatment) ¹⁴C incorporation intosucrose stayed high relative to controls but this was not thecase for starch At the end of the third week of P1-deficiency,shoot growth was considerably reduced and fresh weight was onlyone-third of that of the control plants. The P1 concentrationof both the leaf and root tissues was less than 1.0 µmolg^–1 FW compared to 20-25µmol g¹ FW in the controls.Photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation was reduced and the leaf concentrationof sucrose and starch, which had begun to decrease after theend of the second week of P1 limitation, became lower than inthe controls. These results obtained on maize plants show thatphotosynthesis and carbon partitioning between sucrose and starchwere strongly affected by P1 deficiency, similar to C₃ species. Key words: CO₂ assimilation, corn, orthophosphate deficiency, starch, sucrose