Abstract
Changes in leaf anatomy and ultrastructure are associated with physiological performance in the context of plant adaptations to climate change. In this study, we investigated the isolated and combined effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) up to 600 μmol mol-1 (eC) and elevated temperature (eT) to 2°C more than the ambient canopy temperature on the ultrastructure, leaf anatomy, and physiology of Panicum maximum Jacq. grown under field conditions using combined free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) and temperature free-air controlled enhancement (T-FACE) systems. Plants grown under eC showed reduced stomatal density, stomatal index, stomatal conductance (gs), and leaf transpiration rate (E), increased soil-water content (SWC) conservation and adaxial epidermis thickness were also observed. The net photosynthesis rate (A) and intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) were enhanced by 25% and 71%, respectively, with a concomitant increase in the size of starch grains in bundle sheath cells. Under air warming, we observed an increase in the thickness of the adaxial cuticle and a decrease in the leaf thickness, size of vascular bundles and bulliform cells, and starch content. Under eCeT, air warming offset the eC effects on SWC and E, and no interactions between [CO2] and temperature for leaf anatomy were observed. Elevated [CO2] exerted more effects on external characteristics, such as the epidermis anatomy and leaf gas exchange, while air warming affected mainly the leaf structure. We conclude that differential anatomical and physiological adjustments contributed to the acclimation of P. maximum growing under elevated [CO2] and air warming, improving the leaf biomass production under these conditions.
Highlights
In the last five decades, human activities have resulted in the increased emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) as atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) from approximately 320 μmol mol-1 to more than 400 μmol mol-1 [1]
The thylakoid membranes of the bundle sheath cells (BSC) were intact under this treatment (Fig 3E, 3F and 3G), and chloroplasts and mitochondria were frequently observed in association (Fig 3G)
We reported the effects of warming and elevated [CO2] on the ultrastructure, leaf anatomy, and physiology of P. maximum growing at the Trop-T-free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) facility
Summary
In the last five decades, human activities have resulted in the increased emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) as atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) from approximately 320 μmol mol-1 to more than 400 μmol mol-1 [1]. This increase in GHGs is responsible for the rise in the global surface temperature [1]. Leaf anatomy is often neglected in studies that evaluate the plant responses to climate change variables [5]
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