CO2 uptake and fluorescence responses for a shade‐tolerant cactus Hylocereus undatus under current and doubled CO2 concentrations

Abstract

Hylocereus undatus (Haworth) Britton and Rose growing in controlled environment chambers at 370 and 740 μmol CO2 mol−1 air showed a Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) pattern of CO2 uptake, with 34% more total daily CO2 uptake under the doubled CO2 concentration and most of the increase occurring in the late afternoon. For both CO2 concentrations, 90% of the maximal daily CO2 uptake occurred at a total daily photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of only 10 mol m−2 day−1 and the best day/night air temperatures were 25/15°C. Enhancement of the daily net CO2 uptake by doubling the CO2 concentration was greater under the highest PPFD (30 mol m−2 day−1) and extreme day/night air temperatures (15/5 and 45/35°C). After 24 days of drought, daily CO2 uptake under 370 μmol CO2 mol−1 was 25% of that under 740 μmol CO2 mol−1. The ratio of variable to maximal chlorophyll fluorescence (Fy/Fm) decreased as the PPFD was raised above 5 mol m−2 day−1, at extreme day/night temperatures and during drought, suggesting that stress occurred under these conditions. Fv/Fm was higher under the doubled CO2 concentration, indicating that the current CO2 concentration was apparently limiting for photosynthesis. Thus net CO2 uptake by the shade‐tolerant H. undatus, the photosynthetic efficiency of which was greatest at low PPFDs. showed a positive response to doubling the CO2 concentration, especially under stressful environmental conditions.