Response Of CO2 Uptake Research Articles

Growth and photosynthetic responses to ozone of Siebold's beech seedlings grown under elevated CO2 and soil nitrogen supply

Ozone (O3) is a phytotoxic air pollutant, the adverse effects of which on growth and photosynthesis are modified by other environmental factors. In this study, we examined the combined effects of O3, elevated CO2, and soil nitrogen supply on Siebold's beech seedlings. Seedlings were grown under combinations of two levels of O3 (low and two times ambient O3 concentration), two levels of CO2 (ambient and 700 ppm), and three levels of soil nitrogen supply (0, 50, and 100 kg N ha−1 year−1) during two growing seasons (2019 and 2020), with leaf photosynthetic traits being determined during the second season. We found that elevated CO2 ameliorated O3-induced reductions in photosynthetic activity, whereas the negative effects of O3 on photosynthetic traits were enhanced by soil nitrogen supply. We observed three-factor interactions in photosynthetic traits, with the ameliorative effects of elevated CO2 on O3-induced reductions in the maximum rate of carboxylation being more pronounced under high than under low soil nitrogen conditions in July. In contrast, elevated CO2-induced amelioration of the effects of O3 on stomatal function-related traits was more pronounced under low soil nitrogen conditions. Although we observed several two- or three-factor interactions of gas and soil treatments with respect to leaf photosynthetic traits, the shoot to root dry mass (S/R) ratio was the only parameter for which a significant interaction was detected among seedling growth parameters. O3 caused a significant increase in S/R under ambient CO2 conditions, whereas no similar effects were observed under elevated CO2 conditions. Collectively, our findings reveal the complex interactive effects of elevated CO2 and soil nitrogen supply on the detrimental effects of O3 on leaf photosynthetic traits, and highlight the importance of taking into consideration differences between the responses of CO2 uptake and growth to these three environmental factors.

Response of CO2 uptake, chlorophyll content, and some productional features of forest herb Smyrnium perfoliatum L. (Apiaceae) to different light conditions

Smyrnium perfoliatum L. (Apiaceae), an endangered summer forest herb grown in the understory of dominant oak-hornbeam stands in Devinska Kobyla, Little Carpathians region in SW Slovakia, is considered to form at least five leaf types of different physiological and anatomical quality. These observation are based upon the estimated differences of photosynthetic carbon dioxide uptake, chlorophyll content, leaf anatomy, and several quantitative parameters of growth analysis. There is a further attempt to establish, to what extent the daily changing environment, especially the excess of light of fast-moving sun-flecks by the photosynthetic apparatus within any leaf type, according to its dominant shade adaptation could be effectively used.

An in vivo analysis of the effect of SO2 fumigation on photosynthesis in Zea mays.

Fumigation of leaves with SO2 can reduce the capacity for photosynthetic CO2 uptake even in the absence of visible symptoms of damage. In vitro studies suggest that this invisible injury to intact leaves could be affected by damage to each of the main stages in the photosynthetic process. Reduced stomatal apertures may also reduce photosynthesis following SO2 fumigation. The responses of CO2 uptake by leaves to intercellular CO2 concentration and to absorbed light provide information for quantitative separation of the in vivo contribution of the different stages of photosynthesis to reduction in overall rate. This study uses these techniques to examine the basis of reduction in CO2 uptake in Zea mays cv. LG11 leaves following short‐term fumigation with SO2. Fumigation with 33 μmol m–3 SO2 for 30 min reduced light saturated CO2 uptake by about one‐third. An even greater reduction in light limited CO2 uptake was observed and with no significant change in light absorptance this was attributed to a reduced quantum yield of photosynthesis. The light saturated CO2 uptake rate and the stomatal conductance decreased in parallel. However, the relationship of CO2 uptake to the intercellular CO2 concentration suggested that the reduced stomatal conductance did not account for the reduced rate of CO2 uptake following fumigation. Both the initial slope and plateau of this relationship were significantly reduced, suggesting that both carboxylation efficiency and capacity for regeneration of CO2 acceptor were diminished by SO2 fumigation. The operating intercellular CO2 concentration indicated that both processes were co‐limiting, before and after fumigation. The time required for induction of photosynthetic CO2 uptake on illumination was approximately doubled following SO2 fumigation, showing that fumigation impairs the ability of the photosynthetic apparatus to adapt to fluctuations in light level.

Calculation of leaf photosynthetic parameters from light-response curves for ecophysiological applications

Measurement of the light response of photosynthetic CO2 uptake is often used as an implement in ecophysiological studies. A method is described to calculate photosynthetic parameters, such as the maximum rate of whole electron transport and dissimilative respiration in the light, from the light response of CO2 uptake. Examples of the light-response curves of flag leaves and ears of wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. ARKAS) are shown.