ABSTRACT
We have examined the photosynthetic acclimation of wheat leaves grown at an elevated CO(2) concentration, and ample and limiting N supplies, within a field experiment using free-air CO(2) enrichment (FACE). To understand how leaf age and developmental stage affected any acclimation response, measurements were made on a vertical profile of leaves every week from tillering until maturity. The response of assimilation (A) to internal CO(2) concentration (C(i)) was used to estimate the in vivo carboxylation capacity (Vc(max)) and maximum rate of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate limited photosynthesis (A (sat)). The total activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), and leaf content of Rubisco and the Light Harvesting Chlorophyll a/b protein associated with Photosystem II (LHC II), were determined. Elevated CO(2) did not alter Vc(max) in the flag leaf at either low or high N. In the older shaded leaves lower in the canopy, acclimatory decline in Vc(max) and A (sat) was observed, and was found to correlate with reduced Rubisco activity and content. The dependency of acclimation on N supply was different at each developmental stage. With adequate N supply, acclimation to elevated CO(2) was also accompanied by an increased LHC II/Rubisco ratio. At low N supply, contents of Rubisco and LHC II were reduced in all leaves, although an increased LHC II/Rubisco ratio under elevated CO(2) was still observed. These results underscore the importance of leaf position, leaf age and crop developmental stage in understanding the acclimation of photosynthesis to elevated CO(2) and nutrient stress.
ABSTRACT
Atmospheric CO(2) concentration continues to rise. It is important, therefore, to determine what acclimatory c hanges will occur within the photosynthetic apparatus of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yecora Rojo) grown in a future high-CO(2) world at ample and limited soil N contents. Wheat was grown in an open field exposed to the CO(2) concentration of ambient air [370 mumol (CO(2)) mol(-1); Control] and air enriched to approximately 200 mumol (CO(2)) mol(-1) above ambient using a Free-Air CO(2) Enrichment (FACE) apparatus (main plot). A High (35 g m(-2)) or Low (7 and 1.5 g m(-2) for 1996 and 1997, respectfully) level of N was applied to each half of the main CO(2) treatment plots (split-plot). Under High-N, FACE reduced stomatal conductance (g (s)) by 30% at mid-morning (2 h prior to solar noon), 36% at midday (solar noon) and 27% at mid-afternoon (2.5 h after solar noon), whereas under Low-N, g (s) was reduced by as much as 31% at mid-morning, 44% at midday and 28% at mid-afternoon compared with Control. But, no significant CO(2) x N interaction effects occurred. Across seasons and growth stages, daily accumulation of carbon (A') was 27% greater in FACE than Control. High-N increased A' by 18% compared with Low-N. In contrast to results for g (s), however, significant CO(2) x N interaction effects occurred because FACE increased A' by 30% at High-N, but by only 23% at Low-N. FACE enhanced the seasonal accumulation of carbon (A'') by 29% during 1996 (moderate N-stress), but by only 21% during 1997 (severe N-stress). These results support the premise that in a future high-CO(2) world an acclimatory (down-regulation) response in the photosynthetic apparatus of field-grown wheat is anticipated. They also demonstrate, however, that the stimulatory effect of a rise in atmospheric CO(2) on carbon gain in wheat can be maintained if nutrients such as nitrogen are in ample supply.
ABSTRACT
The response of whole-canopy net CO(2) exchange rate (CER) and canopy architecture to CO(2) enrichment and N stress during 1996 and 1997 for open-field-grown wheat ecosystem (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yecora Rojo) are described. Every Control (C) and FACE (F) CO(2) treatment (defined as ambient and ambient +200 mumol mol(-1), respectively) contained a Low- and High-N treatment. Low-N treatments constituted initial soil content amended with supplemental nitrogen applied at a rate of 70 kg N ha(-1) (1996) and 15 kg N ha(-1) (1997), whereas High-N treatments were supplemented with 350 kg N ha(-1) (1996 and 1997). Elevated CO(2) enhanced season-long carbon accumulation by 8% and 16% under Low-N and High-N, respectively. N-stress reduced season-long carbon accumulation 14% under ambient CO(2), but by as much as 22% under CO(2) enrichment. Averaging both years, green plant area index (GPAI) peaked approximately 76 days after planting at 7.13 for FH, 6.00 for CH, 3.89 for FL, and 3.89 for CL treatments. Leaf tip angle distribution (LTA) indicated that Low-N canopies were more erectophile than those of High-N canopies: 48 degrees for FH, 52 degrees for CH, and 58 degrees for both FL and CL treatments. Temporal trends in canopy greenness indicated a decrease in leaf chlorophyll content from the flag to flag-2 leaves of 25% for FH, 28% for CH, 17% for CL, and 33% for FL during 1997. These results indicate that significant modifications of canopy architecture occurs in response to both CO(2) and N-stress. Optimization of canopy architecture may serve as a mechanism to diminish CO(2) and N-stress effects on CER.
