Modulation of carbon and nitrogen allocation in Urtica dioica and Plantago major by elevated CO2: Impact of accumulation of nonstructural carbohydrates and ontogenetic drift

Abstract

Doubling the atmospheric CO2 concentration from 350 to 700 μ1 1−1 increased the relative growth rate (RGR) of hydroponically grown Urtica dioica L. and Plantago major ssp. pleiosperma Pilger only for the first 10–14 days. Previous experiments with P. major led to the conclusion that RGR did not respond in proportion to the rate of photosynthesis. The present paper is focussed on the analysis of the impact of changes in leaf morphology, dry matter partitioning, dry matter chemical composition and ontogenetic drift on this discrepancy.Soon after the start of the treatment, carbohydrate concentrations were higher at elevated CO2: a reaction that was largely due to starch accumulation. An increase in the percentage of leaf dry matter and decreases in the specific leaf area (SLA) and the shoot nitrogen concentration were correlated with an increase in the total nonstructural carbohydrate concentration (TNC). A combination of accumulation of soluble sugars and starch and ontogenetic drift explains the decrease in SLA at the elevated CO2 level. A similar ontogenetic effect of elevated CO2 was observed on the specific root length (SRL). Other variables such as shoot nitrogen concentration and percentage leaf dry matter were not affected by correction of data for TNC levels. The net diurnal fluctuation of the carbohydrate pool in P. major was equal for both CO2 concentrations, indicating that the growth response to elevated CO2 may be ruled by variables other than photosynthesis, as for instance sink strength.Elevated CO2 did not greatly influence the partitioning of nitrogen between soluble and insoluble, reduced N and nitrate, nor the allocation of dry matter between leaf. stem and root. The finding that the root to shoot ratio (R/S) was not affected by elevated CO2 implies that, in order to maintain a balanced activity between roots and shoot, no shift in partitioning of dry matter upon doubling of the atmospheric CO2 concentration is required. Our data on R/S are in good agreement with the response of R/S to high CO2 predicted by models based on such a theorem.