CO2 enrichment, drought stress and growth of Alaska pea plants (Pisum sativum)

Abstract

The interaction of CO2 enrichment and drought on water status and growth of pea plants was investigated. Pisum sativum L. (cv. Alaska) plants were grown from seeds in growth chambers using 350 and 675 μl I1 CO2, a photon flux density of 600 μmol M‐2 S‐1, a 16 h photoperiod and a temperature regime of 20/14°C. The drought treatment was started at the beginning of branch initiation and lasted for 9 or 11 days. The water status of the plants was monitored daily by measuring total leaf water potential and stomatal conductance. The total leaf water potential of well‐watered plants was not affected by the CO2 level. Under draughting conditions total leaf water potential decreased, with a slower decrease under the high CO2 regime, due, at least in part, to reduced stomatal conductance. Upon rewatering, total leaf water potential and stomatal conductance recovered within one day. High CO2 counteracted the reduction in height and, to some extent, leaf area that developed in low CO2 unwatered plants. Additional CO2 had no effect on branch number and did not prevent the complete inhibition of branch development that resulted from drought stress. Removing the drought conditions resulted in a rapid recovery of the internal water status and also a rapid recovery of most, but not all, plant growth parameters.