Seasonal response of photosynthesis to elevated CO2 in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) over two growing seasons

Abstract

AbstractTrees growing in natural systems undergo seasonal changes in environmental factors that generate seasonal differences in net photosynthetic rates. To examine how seasonal changes in the environment affect the response of net photosynthetic rates to elevated CO2, we grew Pinus taeda L. seedlings for three growing seasons in open‐top chambers continuously maintained at either ambient or ambient + 30 Pa CO2. Seedlings were grown in the ground, under natural conditions of light, temperature nd nutrient and water availability. Photosynthetic capacity was measured bimonthly using net photosynthetic rate vs. intercellular CO2 partial pressure (A‐Ci) curves. Maximum Rubisco activity (Vcmax) and ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate regeneration capacity mediated by electron transport (Jmax) and phosphate regeneration (PiRC) were calculated from A‐Ci curves using a biochemically based model. Rubisco activity, activation state and content, and leaf carbohydrate, chlorophyll and nitrogen concentrations were measured concurrently with photosynthesis measurements. This paper presents results from the second and third years of treatment.Mean leaf nitrogen concentrations ranged from 13.7 to 23.8 mg g−1, indicating that seedlings were not nitrogen deficient. Relative to ambient CO2 seedlings, elevated CO2 increased light‐saturated net photosynthetic rates 60–110% during the summer, but < 30% during the winter. A relatively strong correlation between leaf temperature and the relative response of net photosynthetic rates to elevated CO2 suggests a strong effect of leaf temperature. During the third growing season, elevated CO2 reduced Rubisco activity 30% relative to ambient CO2 seedlings, nearly completely balancing Rubisco and RuBP‐regeneration regulation of photosynthesis. However, reductions in Rubisco activity did not eliminate the seasonal pattern in the relative response of net photosynthetic rates to elevated CO2. These results indicate that seasonal differences in the relative response of net photosynthetic rates to elevated CO2 are likely to occur in natural systems.