Sink Strength May Be the Key to Growth and Nitrogen Responses in N-Deficient Wheat at Elevated CO2

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 253 ◽  
Author(s):  
GS Rogers ◽  
PJ Milham ◽  
M Gillings ◽  
JP Conroy

The influence of elevated CO2 (350, 550 and 900 μL L-1) and N supplies ranging from deficient to excess (0-133 mg N kg-1 soil week-1) on the leaf N concentration and shoot growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), cultivar Hartog, was investigated. Shoot growth was 30 % greater at 550 μL L-1 compared to ambient CO2 at all levels of N supply. When the CO2 concentration was increased to 900 μL L-1, there was no increase in shoot growth at low N supply but it more than doubled at high N supply (67 mg N kg-1 soil week-1). Growth effects were closely matched by changes in sink development, suggesting that sink strength, mediated through N supply controlled the shoot growth response to elevated CO2. The shoot N concentration was lower at each level of CO2 enrichment and the greatest effect (30% reduction) occurred at 900 μL CO2 L-1, 33 mg N kg-1 soil week-1. The effect of high CO2 on shoot N concentration diminished as N supply increased and, at the highest N addition rate, there was only a 7% reduction. Changes in foliar N concentration due to CO2 enrichment were closely correlated with lower soluble protein concentration, accounting for 58 % of the total leaf N reduction. Ribulose- IS-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) levels were also reduced at high CO2 and N was allocated away from Rubisco and into other soluble proteins at high CO2 when N supply was low. Non- structural carbohydrate concentration (dry weight basis) was greatest at 900 μL CO2 L-1 and low N supply and may have reduced Rubisco concentration via a feed-back response. Critical foliar N concentrations (N concentration at 90 % of maximum shoot growth) were reduced from 43 mg g-1 at ambient CO2 to 39 and 38 mg g-1 at 550 and 900 μL CO2 L-1, respectively. Elevated CO2, at N supplies of 0-17 mg N kg-1 soil week-1, reduced flour protein concentration by 9-13 %.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
GS Rogers ◽  
PJ Milham ◽  
MC Thibaud ◽  
JP Conroy

The influence of sink development on the response of shoot growth in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Siokra BT1-4) was investigated by growing plants at three levels of CO2=2 concentration: 350 (ambient), 550 and 900 μL L-1 and six levels of nitrogen (N) supply ranging from deficient to excess (0-133 mg N kg-1 soil week-1). Changes in leaf N concentration were also investigated. At 59 days after sowing, there was an average 63% increase in shoot growth at 550 μL CO2 L-1 compared with ambient CO2-grown plants, with no significant growth increase at 900 μL CO2 L-1 and, this response was closely matched by sink development (flower number and stem weight). Low N supply restricted the responses of both sink development and shoot growth to high CO2. At elevated CO2, leaf N concentration was reduced by an average 27% at low to adequate N supply. The high CO2-induced reduction in leaf N concentration, however, disappeared when the N supply was increased to a high level of 133 mg N kg-1 soil week-1. These CO2 effects on leaf N concentration were smaller when N was expressed per unit leaf area, apparently due to a combination of the effects of elevated CO2 or high N supply reducing specific leaf area and, to an N uptake limitation at low to moderate levels of N supply. The critical foliar N concentrations (leaf N concentration at 90% of maximum shoot growth) were reduced from 42 to 38 and 36 mg g-1 when CO2 concentrations were increased from 350 to 550 and 900 μL L-1 respectively, indicating that changes in fertiliser management may be required under changing CO2 concentrations.


2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 1137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Atwell ◽  
Martin L. Henery ◽  
Gordon S. Rogers ◽  
Saman P. Seneweera ◽  
Marie Treadwell ◽  
...  

We report on the relationship between growth, partitioning of shoot biomass and hydraulic development of Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. grown in glasshouses for six months. Close coordination of stem vascular capacity and shoot architecture is vital for survival of eucalypts, especially as developing trees are increasingly subjected to spasmodic droughts and rising atmospheric CO2 levels. Trees were exposed to constant soil moisture deficits in 45 L pots (30–50% below field capacity), while atmospheric CO2 was raised to 700 μL CO2 L–1 in matched glasshouses using a hierarchical, multi-factorial design. Enrichment with CO2 stimulated shoot growth rates for 12–15 weeks in well-watered trees but after six months of CO2 enrichment, shoot biomasses were not significantly heavier (30% stimulation) in ambient conditions. By contrast, constant drought arrested shoot growth after 20 weeks under ambient conditions, whereas elevated CO2 sustained growth in drought and ultimately doubled the shoot biomass relative to ambient conditions. These growth responses were achieved through an enhancement of lateral branching up to 8-fold due to CO2 enrichment. In spite of larger transpiring canopies, CO2 enrichment also improved the daytime water status of leaves of droughted trees. Stem xylem development was highly regulated, with vessels per unit area and cross sectional area of xylem vessels in stems correlated inversely across all treatments. Furthermore, vessel numbers related to the numbers of leaves on lateral branches, broadly supporting predictions arising from Pipe Model Theory that the area of conducting tissue should correlate with leaf area. Diminished water use of trees in drought coincided with a population of narrower xylem vessels, constraining hydraulic capacity of stems. Commensurate with the positive effects of elevated CO2 on growth, development and leaf water relations of droughted trees, the capacity for long-distance water transport also increased.


1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saman P. Seneweera ◽  
Oula Ghannoum ◽  
Jann Conroy

The hypothesis that shoot growth responses of C4 grasses to elevated CO2 are dependent on shoot water relations was tested using a C4 grass, Panicum coloratum (NAD-ME subtype). Plants were grown for 35 days at CO2 concentrations of 350 or 1000 µL CO2 L-1. Shoot water relations were altered by growing plants in soil which was brought daily to 65, 80 or 100% field capacity (FC) and by maintaining the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) at 0.9 or 2.1 kPa. At 350 µL CO2 L-1, high VPD and lower soil water content depressed shoot dry mass, which declined in parallel at each VPD with decreasing soil water content. The growth depression at high VPD was associated with increased shoot transpiration, whereas at low soil water, leaf water potential was reduced. Elevated CO2 ameliorated the impact of both stresses by decreasing transpiration rates and raising leaf water potential. Consequently, high CO2 approximately doubled shoot mass and leaf length at a VPD of 2.1 kPa and soil water contents of 65 and 80% FC but had no effect on unstressed plants. Water use efficiency was enhanced by elevated CO2 under conditions of stress but this was primarily due to increases in shoot mass. High CO2 had a greater effect on leaf growth parameters than on stem mass. Elevated CO2 increased specific leaf area and leaf area ratio, the latter at high VPD only. We conclude that high CO2 increases shoot growth of C4 grasses by ameliorating the effects of stress induced by either high VPD or low soil moisture. Since these factors limit growth of field-grown C4 grasses, it is likely that their biomass will be enhanced by rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations.


Author(s):  
Ursula M Ruiz-Vera ◽  
Amanda P De Souza ◽  
Michael R Ament ◽  
Roslyn M Gleadow ◽  
Donald R Ort

Abstract Cassava has the potential to alleviate food insecurity in many tropical regions, yet few breeding efforts to increase yield have been made. Improved photosynthetic efficiency in cassava has the potential to increase yields, but cassava roots must have sufficient sink strength to prevent carbohydrates from accumulating in leaf tissue and suppressing photosynthesis. Here, we grew eight farmer-preferred African cassava cultivars under free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) to evaluate the sink strength of cassava roots when photosynthesis increases due to elevated CO2 concentrations ([CO2]). Relative to the ambient treatments, elevated [CO2] treatments increased fresh (+27%) and dry (+37%) root biomass, which was driven by an increase in photosynthesis (+31%) and the absence of photosynthetic down-regulation over the growing season. Moreover, intrinsic water use efficiency improved under elevated [CO2] conditions, while leaf protein content and leaf and root cyanide concentrations were not affected. Overall, these results suggest that higher cassava yields can be expected as atmospheric [CO2] increases over the coming decades. However, there were cultivar differences in the partitioning of resources to roots versus above-grown biomass; thus, the particular responses of each cultivar must be considered when selecting candidates for improvement.


1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Pan ◽  
Z. Wang ◽  
B. Quebedeaux

There is no information on the effects of elevated [CO2] on whole-plant photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) and other sorbitol-translocating plants. Experiments were conducted in controlled growth chambers to evaluate how increases in [CO2] affect plant photosynthesis and carbon partitioning into soluble sugars and starch in apple leaves. Apple plants (cv. Gala), 1-year-old, were exposed to [CO2] of 200, 360, 700, 1000, and 1600 µL L-1 up to 8 d. Whole-plant net photosynthetic rates were analysed daily after [CO2] treatments. Newly expanded mature leaves were sampled at 1, 2, 4, and 8 d after [CO2] treatments for sorbitol, sucrose, glucose, fructose, and starch analysis. Midday whole-plant net photosynthetic rates increased linearly with increasing [CO2], but the differences in whole-plant photosynthesis between CO2-enrichment and ambient [CO2] treatments were less significant as apple plants acclimated to high atmospheric [CO2] for 8 d. Increases in [CO2] significantly increased sorbitol and starch, but did not affect sucrose concentrations. As a result, the ratios of starch to sorbitol and starch to sucrose at 8 d after [CO2] treatments were increased from 0.05 and 0.06 to 0.8 and 1.6 as [CO2] increased from ambient [CO2] (360 µL L-1) to 1000 µL L-1 [CO2], respectively. The sorbitol to sucrose ratio also increased from 1.3 to 2.2 as [CO2] increased from 360 to 1000 µL L-1. Elevated [CO2] enhanced the photosynthesis of apple plants and altered carbohydrate accumulation in mature leaves in favour of starch and sorbitol over sucrose.


2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saman P. Seneweera ◽  
Oula Ghannoum ◽  
Jann P. Conroy ◽  
Ken Ishimaru ◽  
Masumi Okada ◽  
...  

Relationships between photosynthetic acclimation and changes in the balance between source-sink supply and demand of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were tested using rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Akitakomachi). Plants were field-grown in northern Japan at ambient CO2 partial pressure [p(CO2)] or free air CO2 enrichment (FACE; p(CO2) ~ 26-32 Pa above ambient) with low, medium or high N supplies. Leaf CO2 assimilation rates (A) and biochemical parameters were measured at 32-36 (eighth leaf) and 76-80 (flag leaf) d after transplanting, representing stages with a contrasting balance between C and N supply and demand in sources and sinks. Acclimation due to FACE was pronounced in flag leaves at each N supply. This was not fully accounted for by reductions in leaf N concentrations, because A/N and Vcmax/N were lower in FACE-grown flag leaves. Acclimation did not occur in the eighth leaf, and A/N and Vcmax/N was not significantly increased in FACE-grown leaves. Soluble protein / sucrose and amino acid / sucrose concentrations decreased under FACE, whereas sucrose phosphate synthase protein levels increased. At flag leaf stage, there was a discrepancy between the demand and supply of N, which was resolved by enhanced leaf N remobilization, associated with the lower Rubisco concentrations under FACE. In contrast to the early growth stage, enhanced growth of rice plants was accompanied by increased plant N uptake in FACE. We conclude that photosynthetic acclimation in flag leaves occurs under FACE because there is a large demand for N for reproductive development, relative to supply of N from root uptake and remobilization from leaves.


1996 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Lea-Cox ◽  
James P. Syvertsen

We examined how N supply affected plant growth and N uptake, allocation and leaching losses from a fine sandy soil with four Citrus rootstock species. Seedlings of `Cleopatra' mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and `Swingle' citrumelo (C. paradisi × P. trifoliata) were grown in a glasshouse in 2.3-liter pots of Candler fine sand and fertilized weekly with a complete nutrient solution containing 200 mg N/liter (20 mg N/week). A single application of 15NH415NO3(17.8% atom excess 15N) was substituted for a normal weekly N application when the seedlings were 22 weeks old (day O). Six replicate plants of each species were harvested at 0.5, 1.5, 3.5, 7, 11, and 30 days after 15N application. In a second experiment, NH4 NO3 was supplied at 18,53, and 105 mg N/week to 14-week-old `Volkamer' lemon (C. volkameriana Ten. & Pasq.) and sour orange (C. aurantium L.) seedlings in a complete nutrient solution for 8 weeks. A single application of 15NH415NO3 (23.0% 15N) was substituted at 22 weeks (day 0), as in the first experiment, and seedlings harvested 3,7, and 31 days after 15N application. Nitrogen uptake and partitioning were similar among species within each rate, but were strongly influenced by total N supply and the N demand by new growth. There was no 15N retranslocation to new tissue at the highest (105 mg N/week) rate, but N supplies below this rate limited plant growth without short-term 15N reallocation from other tissues. Leaf N concentration increased linearly with N supply up to the highest rate, while leaf chlorophyll concentration did not increase above that at 53 mg N/week. Photosynthetic CO2 assimilation was not limited by N in this study; leaf N concentration exceeded 100 mmol·m-2 in all treatments. Thus, differences in net productivity at the higher N rates appeared to be a function of increased leaf area, but not of leaf N concentration. Hence, N use efficiency decreased significantly over the range of N supply, whether expressed either on a gas-exchange or dry weight basis. Mean plant 15N uptake efficiencies after 31 days decreased from 60% to 47% of the 15N applied at the 18,20, and 53 mg N/week rates to less than 33% at the 105 mg N/week rate. Leaching losses increased with N rate, with plant growth rates and the subsequent N requirements of these Citrus species interacting with residual soil N and potential leaching loss.


1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 281 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Seneweera ◽  
P Milham ◽  
J Conroy

The growth and development of a short-duration rice cultivar (Oryza sativa L. cv. Jarrah), grown in flooded soil with a range of phosphorus (P) levels and exposed to atmospheric CO2 concentrations of either 350 or 700 μL L-1 was followed for 146 days after planting (DAP). Development (estimated by rate of tiller production and time to flowering) was faster with higher soil P levels and CO2 enrichment, the effect being more pronounced with CO2 enrichment. During the early vegetative phase (up to 35 DAP), when rates of tiller production were low, shoot growth and rates of leaf expansion were faster at elevated CO2 concentrations and high soil P levels. Rates of tiller production were greater with these treatments during the 35-56 DAP period, when tillering was at a maximum. Shoot elongation was reduced at elevated CO2 levels and at high soil P levels during this period. By 146 DAP leaf weight was greater at high P levels, but CO2 enrichment accelerated tiller production to such an extent that final leaf weight was lower at high CO2, probably because there were fewer, and smaller, leaves on each tiller. Despite this, grain yield was increased by up to 58% by CO2 enrichment, with increases occurring even at low soil P levels. This was due mainly to an increase in grain number per panicle, although panicle number also increased. Higher soil P levels also increased grain number and yield. The P concentration in the foliage was unaffected by the CO2 treatments and the concentration required to produce maximum yield was 0.18% (dry wt basis) at both CO2 levels. Greater starch accumulation in the stems of high-CO2-grown plants may have accounted for the higher number of grains in each panicle.


Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Walker ◽  
Roger Armstrong ◽  
Joe Panozzo ◽  
Debra Partington ◽  
Glenn Fitzgerald

The effect of different nitrogen (N) management strategies (i.e. N rate; 0, 25, 50, 100 kg ha–1, split N application, foliar N application, legume precropping) were assessed for how they may reverse the reduction of grain protein concentration (GPC) under elevated CO2 (eCO2; 550 µmol mol–1) of wheat (cv. Yitpi) using the Australian Grains Free Air CO2 Enrichment facility. GPC did not increase significantly under eCO2 for most of the N management strategies assessed when compared with ambient CO2 (aCO2; 390 µmol mol–1). Grain yield of cv. Yitpi under aCO2 increased by 43% (P < 0.001) with application of 100 kg N ha–1 when compared with 0 kg N ha–1 at sowing; this response was approximately double (82%) when 100 kg N ha–1 was applied under eCO2 conditions. Under aCO2 conditions, by adding 100 kg N ha–1 at sowing, the GPC increased by 37% compared with the GPC at N0; whereas under eCO2 conditions, by adding the same quantity of N fertiliser, the GPC increased by only 28%. The highest level of N applied (100 kg ha–1), chosen for economic and practical reasons in a low-rainfall, yield-limiting environment, was lower than that reported in other global studies (250–350 kg ha–1). In a low-rainfall, yield-limiting environment, it is not practical to increase GPC by applying N alone; new cultivars may be required if grain growers are to maintain grain protein (and functionality) in the future as CO2 levels continue to increase.


1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 1881-1885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaku Kudo

Leaf demography, shoot growth, and seasonal changes of leaf size, specific leaf area, and leaf nitrogen (N) concentration of Betulaplatyphylla var. japonica Hara were compared at two altitudes (140 and 700 m above sea level). At the higher site, where the length of growing season was restricted, leaf life-span was shorter and leaf N concentration was higher throughout the growing season than at the lower site. Leaf size did not differ between sites. Production of short-lived and high N concentration leaves was considered adaptive under the condition of short growing season. At the higher site, N was translocated from senescing early leaves to late leaves in mid-September, whereas a significant increase in late leaf N concentration was not observed at the lower site. There were no differences in shoot growth, bud size, late leaf number on long shoots between sites, probably because of effective N use at the higher site.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document