Compensatory effects of elevated CO<sub>2</sub> concentration on the inhibitory effects of high temperature and irradiance on photosynthetic gas exchange in carrots

Abstract

We determined the interactive effects of irradiance, elevated CO2 concentration (EC), and temperature in carrot (Daucus carota var. sativus). Plants of the cv. Red Core Chantenay (RCC) were grown in a controlled environmental plant growth room and exposed to 3 levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (400, 800, 1 200 µmol m-2 s-1), 3 leaf chamber temperatures (15, 20, 30 °C), and 2 external CO2 concentrations (C a), AC and EC (350 and 750 µmol mol-1, respectively). Rates of net photosynthesis (P N) and transpiration (E) and stomatal conductance (g s ) were measured, along with water use efficiency (WUE) and ratio of internal and external CO2 concentrations (C i/C a). P N revealed an interactive effect between PAR and C a. As PAR increased so did P N under both C a regimes. The g s showed no interactive effects between the three parameters but had singular effects of temperature and PAR. E was strongly influenced by the combination of PAR and temperature. WUE was interactively affected by all three parameters. Maximum WUE occurred at 15 °C and 1 200 µmol m-2 s- 1 PAR under EC. The C i /C a was influenced independently by temperature and C a. Hence photosynthetic responses are interactively affected by changes in irradiance, external CO2 concentration, and temperature. EC significantly compensates the inhibitory effects of high temperature and irradiance on P N and WUE.