Respiration and Growth of Sorghum and Sunflower under Predicted Increased Night Temperatures1

Abstract

AbstractLittle information exists concerning how crops will respond to the predicted increased night temperatures. The objective of this work was to determine if respiration and growth of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], a C, plant, and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), a C3 plant, are affected when the night temperature is increased by 5°C compared to the long‐term (19 year) average night temperature in June in Kansas. Sorghum and sunflower were grown in two walk‐in growth chambers with either the ambient night temperature (21C) or a high night temperature (26C). Day temperature was the same for all plants (27C). Both sunflower and sorghum had higher respiration rates under the elevated night temperature than under the ambient temperature. The average respiration rate of sunflower grown under elevated night temperature increased by 19% (0.89 vs. 0.75 μmol m−2 s−1) and that of sorghum by 44 % (0.52 vs. 0.36μmol m−2s−1). After 74 days, sunflower plants grown under the ambient night temperature were 30.2 cm taller than sunflower plants grown under the elevated night temperature; sorghum plants under the ambient temperature were 24.8 cm taller. Sunflower plants grown under the elevated night temperature formed flowers one week earlier than those grown under the ambient temperature. Sorghum formed no flowers by 74 days. Results suggest that, if climate change does increase night temperature, respiration will be increased more in C4, than C3 plants.