Elevated [CO2] does not ameliorate the negative effects of elevated temperature on drought‐induced mortality in Eucalyptus radiata seedlings

It has been reported that elevated temperature accelerates the time‐to‐mortality in plants exposed to prolonged drought, while elevated CO₂] acts as a mitigating factor because it can reduce stomatal conductance and thereby reduce water loss. We examined the interactive effects of elevated CO₂] and temperature on the inter‐dependent carbon and hydraulic characteristics associated with drought‐induced mortality in Eucalyptus radiata seedlings grown in two CO₂] (400 and 640 μL L^?1) and two temperature (ambient and ambient +4 °C) treatments. Seedlings were exposed to two controlled drying and rewatering cycles, and then water was withheld until plants died. The extent of xylem cavitation was assessed as loss of stem hydraulic conductivity. Elevated temperature triggered more rapid mortality than ambient temperature through hydraulic failure, and was associated with larger water use, increased drought sensitivities of gas exchange traits and earlier occurrence of xylem cavitation. Elevated CO₂] had a negligible effect on seedling response to drought, and did not ameliorate the negative effects of elevated temperature on drought. Our findings suggest that elevated temperature and consequent higher vapour pressure deficit, but not elevated CO₂], may be the primary contributors to drought‐induced seedling mortality under future climates.