Production Ecophysiology of Hungarian Green Pepper Under Elevated Air CO2 Concentration

SUMMARY

Production, dry matter (including reproductive) allocation, photosynthesis, transpiration, water use efficiency and carbon and nitrogen responses of a Hungarian sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.) under continuous elevated CO₂ concentrations are reported. Plants were grown in open top chambers under a temperate-continental climate in Hungary from plantation at ambient (350 μmol mol^?1) and elevated (700 μmol mol^?1) CO₂ concentrations. The CO₂ assimilation responses of the green pepper plants grown in high CO₂ from plantation until final harvest reflected down-regulation of their photosynthesis. The integrated and combined effect of the increased net CO₂ assimilation rate and the unchanged rate of transpiration resulted in higher WUE at elevated CO₂ concentrations in the high CO₂ plants than in the control ones grown at ambientCO₂. However, the improved water use efficiency in the high CO₂ plants was not followed by an acclimation in C-trans-location and C-allocation to the reproductive organs in the required degree. This was reflected in a slightly increased overall plant production and higher reproductive allocation, but was not accompanied by an increased fresh or dry berry mass production. The acclimation discussed may be of advantage for plant growth in a high CO₂ environment with restricted water availability. We did not find worthy statistical difference between the yield mass of the control and elevated CO₂, although the dry matter production parameters of the high CO₂ plants had statistically not significantly higher values.     

CO2浓度升高对玉米叶片光合生理特性的影响

以沈糯3号为研究材料,利用开顶式气室(OTCs)法研究了二氧化碳(CO₂)浓度升高处理下,玉米叶片叶绿素含量、光合生理特性及其子粒产量的变化,揭示CO₂浓度升高对玉米光合生理特性及子粒产量的影响机理。结果表明,在整个生育期内,与对照相比,高浓度CO₂处理下,玉米叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b及叶绿素(a+b)的含量增加,而叶绿素a/b的值则先升高后降低;在整个处理期间,净光合速率均高于对照(p>0.05),升高幅度为12.6%～71.1%,气孔导度低于对照(p>0.05),其降低幅度为2.9%～18.8%。处理至抽雄期和灌浆期,胞间CO₂浓度分别增加152%和161%,均极显著高于对照(p<0.01);蒸腾速率的变化较小。高浓度CO₂处理下,玉米穗粒数和穗粒重均明显高于对照(p<0.05)。CO₂浓度升高在一定程度上促进了玉米的光合作用,从而使玉米子粒产量增加。     

Climate Change and Potato Production in Contrasting South African Agro-ecosystems 1. Effects on Land and Water Use Efficiencies

Explorations of the impact of climate change on potential potato yields were obtained by downscaling the projections of six different coupled climate models to high spatial resolution over southern Africa. The simulations of daily maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation, wind speed, and solar radiation were used as input to run the crop growth model LINTUL-Potato. Pixels representative for potato growing areas were selected for four globally occurring agro-ecosystems: rainy and dry winter and summer crops. The simulated inter-annual variability is much greater for rainfall than for temperature. Reference evapotranspiration and radiation are projected to hardly decline over the 90-year period, whilst temperatures are projected to rise significantly by about 1.9 °C. From literature, it was found that radiation use efficiency of potato increased with elevated CO₂ concentrations by almost 0.002 g?MJ^?1?ppm^?1. This ratio was used to calculate the CO₂ effect on yields between 1960 and 2050, when CO₂ concentration increases from 315 to 550 ppm. Within this range, evapotranspiration by the potato crop was reduced by about 13% according to literature. Simulated yield increase was strongest in the Mediterranean-type winter crop (+37%) and least under Mediterranean summer (+12%) and relatively warm winter conditions (+14%) closer to the equator. Water use efficiency also increased most in the cool rainy Mediterranean winter (+45%) and least so in the winter crop closer to the equator (+14%). It is concluded from the simulations that for all four agro-ecosystems possible negative effects of rising temperatures and reduced availability of water for potato are more than compensated for by the positive effect of increased CO₂ levels on water use efficiency and crop productivity.     

The Effect of Elevated Atmospheric CO2 Concentration on Two Populus Clones Grown in a FACE System

SUMMARY

Two poplar clones, hybrid Populus deltoides Bartr. Ex Marsh X Populus nigra L. (Populus xeuramericana), clone I-214, and Populus deltoides, clone Lux, were grown from hardwood cuttings for one growing season in either ambient (360 μmol mol^?1) or elevated (560 μmol mol^?1) [CO₂] in FACE-systemrings at Rapolano Terme (Siena, Italy). Both clones I-214 and Lux exhibited a higher aboveground bio-mass, photosynthesis at light saturation and instantaneous transpiration efficiency (ITE) in CO₂-enriched air. The elevated [CO₂]-induced responses of clone I-214 included increased investment in branch and leaf biomass, and enhanced stem volume. The elevated [CO₂]-induced responses of clone Lux included an increase in the number of branches (and foliage area). Indication of photosynthetic acclimation under elevated [CO₂] was found during the early morning, but only in clone I-214. Stomatal conductance decreased under elevated [CO₂] particularly in clone Lux. Clone differences in response to elevated [CO₂] should be taken in account when planning future poplar plantations in forecast warmer and drier Mediterranean sites.     

The Potential Effect of Climate Change and Elevated Air Carbon Dioxide on Agricultural Crop Production in Central and Southeastern Europe

SUMMARY

The vulnerability and adaptation of major agricultural crops to different soils in Austria and Bulgaria under a changing climate and elevated air CO₂ were investigated. Several incremental and transient GCM climate change scenarios were created and applied. Warming will decrease the crop-growing duration of the selected crops in the regions of interest. All GCM scenarios, including the climate change effect only, projected reductions in grain yield of winter wheat and spring barley, caused by a shorter crop-growing period. However, when the direct effect of an increased CO₂ level was assumed, most GCM climate change scenarios projected an increase in wheat and barley yield and especially in soybean yield. An increased level of CO₂ alone had no significant impact on the simulated maize yield reductions under climate change.     

Climate Change and Consequences for Potato Production: a Review of Tolerance to Emerging Abiotic Stress

Potato is a major global crop that has an important role to play in food security, reducing poverty and improving human nutrition. Enhanced atmospheric CO₂ concentrations provide an opportunity to increase potato yields in the future, but this will only be possible if the potato crop can cope with the other consequences of climate change caused by this rise in CO₂. While climate change may impact biotic stress either positively or negatively, abiotic stresses are likely to be greatly increased and become a major threat to potato production. Increasing heat, drought and salinity stress will drive the need for greater understanding of genes, traits and management techniques that allow potato to cope with these stresses. In this review, we identify some of the key physiological and molecular adaptations of potato to these stresses and propose an ideotype which should include (1) optimal stomatal regulation to balance water loss and heat stress in leaves, (2) production of metabolites and transporters to scavenge reactive oxygen species and partition toxic elements, (3) enhanced root systems to maximise water capture, (4) maintenance of tuberisation under stress conditions and (5) stress avoidance by accelerating crop development and reducing time to yield. We discuss potential ways to achieve this ideotype, emphasising the need to benefit from genetic diversity in landrace and wild material by screening for traits in combined stress environments appropriate to future agroecosystems.     

Impacts of early-season square abscission on the growth and yield of transgenic Bt cotton under elevated CO2

A field study was carried out to quantify the compensation capacity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-transgenic cotton to simulated damage by manually removing squares during the early growing season in 2004 and 2005 in combination with CO₂ levels (ambient CO₂ and elevated CO₂). Treatments included: initial squares were wholly (100%) removed manually for 1 week (i.e., SR1 treatment) and for 2 consecutive weeks (i.e., SR2 treatment). Plant leaf area was measured every 2 weeks, and plant root, stem, leaf, shatters, boll dry weight and lint yield and maturity were measured at harvest. Significantly higher leaf area per plant was observed on each sampling date for SR1 and SR2 treatments compared with control (SR0) treatment in 2004 and 2005 under elevated CO₂. Significantly higher lint yield and maturity were observed for SR0, SR1 and SR2 treatments under elevated CO₂ in 2004 and 2005. CO₂ concentration and square removal significantly affected plant lint yield and maturity. Moreover, the interaction between CO₂ concentration × square removal had a significant effect on plant leaf dry weight, lint yield and maturity. Our results indicated that transgenic cotton plants can compensate for the manual removal of 100% of the initial squares for 1 and 2 weeks under ambient and elevated CO₂.     

Climate Change and Potato Production in Contrasting South African Agro-Ecosystems 2. Assessing Risks and Opportunities of Adaptation Strategies

This study aims to assess the risks and opportunities posed by climate change to potato growers in South Africa and to evaluate adaptation measures in the form of changes in planting time growers could adopt to optimise land and water use efficiencies in potato, using a climate model of past, present-day and future climate over southern Africa and the LINTUL crop growth model. This was done for distinct agro-ecosystems in South Africa: the southern Mediterranean area where potato still is grown year round with a doubling of the number of hot days between 1960 and 2050, the Eastern Free State with summer crops only and Limpopo with currently autumn, winter and spring crops where the number of hot days increases sevenfold and in future the crop will mainly be grown in winter. A benefit here will be a drastic reduction of frost days from 0.9 days per winter to 0. Potato crops in the agro-ecosystems will benefit considerably from increased CO₂ levels such as increased tuber yield and reduced water use by the crop, if planting is shifted to appropriate times of the year. When the crop is grown in hot periods, however, these benefits are counteracted by an increased incidence of heat stress and increased evapotranspiration, leading in some instances to considerably lower yields and water use efficiencies. Therefore year-round total production at the Sandveld stabilizes at around 140 Mg?ha^?1 (yield reduction in summer and yield increase in winter), increases by about 30% in the Free State and stays at about 95 t?ha^?1 at Limpopo where yield increase due to CO₂ is annulled by a shorter growing season. When the crop is grown in a cool period, there is an additional benefit of a reduced incidence of cold stress and a more rapid canopy development in the early stages of crop growth. In all three areas, potato growers are likely to respond to climate change by advancing planting. In Limpopo, a major benefit of climate change is a reduction in the risk of frost damage in winter. The relevance of these findings for potato grown in agro-ecosystems elsewhere in the world is discussed.     

Changes of soluble protein expression and leaf metabolite levels in Arabidopsis thaliana grown in elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide

Plant responses to elevated atmospheric CO₂ vary with species and with environmental conditions. Rates of dry matter formation were initially enhanced in response to CO₂ enrichment but these accelerated growth rates typically were not maintained over long periods of time. The objective of this study was to better understand the basis for this acclimation process. Changes of metabolite levels and of total protein expression in response to CO₂ enrichment were studied using biochemical assays and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Henyh. (Columbia ecotype) plants were grown for 2–6 weeks in controlled environment chambers providing 36 (ambient) or 100 (elevated) Pa CO₂. Averaged over all harvest dates above-ground biomass was greater (P < 0.05) in the elevated than in the ambient CO₂ treatment but shoot biomass did not differ between treatments on the final harvest. Flowering was delayed by CO₂ enrichment. One or more flowers were observed for 52% and 100% of the elevated and ambient CO₂ grown plants, respectively, after 4-weeks growth. Starch and sucrose levels were increased 132 and 43%, respectively, in leaves of 6-week-old plants in response to CO₂ enrichment. Nitrate varied with plant age, although mean nitrate levels in rosettes were decreased 31% by CO₂ enrichment when averaged over all harvest dates. Chlorophyll, the chlorophyll a/b ratio, carotenoids and total soluble protein did not differ between CO₂ treatments. Total Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity decreased with plant age and was lower (P < 0.01) in the elevated compared to the ambient CO₂ treatment. The above results suggested that acclimation to elevated CO₂ occurred in Arabidopsis without developing symptoms of N-deficiency. A total of 400 major proteins were separated and compared by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. No proteins appeared de novo or disappeared in response to CO₂ enrichment, although pixel densities for 13 protein spots differed significantly between CO₂ treatments on at least one harvest date. Six of these proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. Three of these identified proteins were involved in plant growth and development or were associated with stress. Two other proteins were encoded by genes with putative functions. Only one protein, the 23 kDa subunit of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC23), was involved in photosynthesis. It was concluded that long-term plant growth in elevated CO₂ caused only small changes in the Arabidopsis proteome.     

Variability in grass forage quality and quantity in response to elevated CO2 and water limitation

Global climate change is expected to alter carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) and water availability, with uncertain impacts on agriculture. Forage quality and quantity in grazing systems are of particular concern because C₃ and C₄ plants respond differently to altered environmental conditions. In a growth chamber, we compared crude protein content, biomass recovery and total crude protein across a set of perennial C₃ and C₄ grasses from the northern U.S. Great Plains under elevated [CO₂] and simulated drought. Simulated 95% confidence intervals indicate both C₃ and C₄ grasses increased forage quality and quantity under elevated [CO₂]. C₄ grasses were generally resistant to water limitation while forage quality and quantity of C₃ grasses declined under simulated drought. Our results are consistent with literature on forage quantity responses to elevated [CO₂] and drought, but forage quality responses contradict expectations. We suggest measuring plant functional traits might better elucidate response mechanisms and ameliorate methodological differences even if traits are not directly applicable to grazing management.     

The response of perennial ryegrass/white clover mini-swards to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations: effects on yield and fodder quality

In order to assess the effects of future elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations on yield, mineral content and the nutritive value of mixed swards of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.), both species were grown as monocultures and as different mixtures and were exposed season-long to ambient (380 p.p.m.) and elevated (670 p.p.m.) CO₂ concentrations in open-top chambers. Mini-swards were cut four times at about monthly intervals at a height of 5 cm, dry-matter yields were determined and content of macroelements (N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca, Na) and crude fibre, crude protein and ash content were measured. The CO₂-related increase in seasonal yield amounted to 16–38% for white clover monocultures, 12–29% for mixed swards and 5–9% for ryegrass monocultures. The white clover content of all swards was significantly enhanced by elevated CO₂. The K and Na content of total yield was decreased by high CO₂ but did not fall below the minimum requirements for ruminants. As the Ca content of total yield was increased by elevated CO₂ and the P content was not changed, the Ca/P ratio of total yield was increased and exceeded values required for animal nutrition. The crude protein content of total yield was reduced by high CO₂ at the beginning of the growing season only and was increased by elevated CO₂ in the course of the experiment, whereas crude fibre content was decreased throughout the season, sometimes falling below the minimum requirement for ruminants. Removal of N, P, S, Mg and Ca by cutting was significantly enhanced because of CO₂ enrichment. The results show that, besides the positive effect of rising atmospheric CO₂ on dry-matter yield of white clover/ryegrass swards, impacts on the nutritive value should be expected. Possible changes in species composition and implications for grassland management are briefly discussed.     

Elevated carbon dioxide and temperature effects on rice yield,leaf greenness,and phenological stages duration

The present field experiment was conducted during two consecutive cropping seasons in central Portugal to study the effects of simultaneous elevation of carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) (550 μmol mol^?1) and air temperature (+2–3 °C) on japonica rice (Oryza sativa L. “Ariete”) yield, crop duration, and SPAD-values across the seasons compared with the open-field condition. Open-top chambers were used in the field to assess the effect of elevated air temperature alone or the combined effect of elevated air temperature and atmospheric [CO₂]. Open-field condition was assessed with randomized plots under ambient air temperature and actual atmospheric [CO₂] (average 382 μmol mol^?1). Results obtained showed that the rice “Ariete” had a moderate high yielding under open-field condition, but was susceptible to air temperature rise of +2–3 °C under controlled conditions resulting in reduction of grain yield. The combined increase of atmospheric [CO₂] with elevated air temperature compensated for the negative effect of temperature rise alone and crop yield was higher than in the open-field. SPAD-readings at reproductive stage explained by more than 60 % variation the straw dry matter, but this finding requires further studies for consolidation. It can be concluded that potential increase in air temperature may limit rice yield in the near future under Mediterranean areas where climate change scenario poses a serious threat, but long term field experiments are required.     

Effects of duration and combination of drought and flood conditions on leaf photosynthesis,growth and sugar content in sugarcane

Global climate change will result in extreme environments, such as droughts and floods. We investigated the individual and combined effects of droughts and floods of varying duration on sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) growth using a pot experiment under glasshouse conditions with the following six treatments: drought for 15 d, prolonged drought for 30 d, flood for 15 d, prolonged flood for 30 d, short flood followed by prolonged drought, and prolonged flood followed by prolonged drought. Plants that were subjected to drought conditions, including drought after a flood, had reduced CO₂ assimilation (through stomatal closure) and leaf areas, whereas flood conditions showed no effect. During flooding, some roots died, and adventitious roots with well-developed aerenchyma appeared from the submerged nodes. At the time of harvest, there were no significant differences in stem fresh weight, sucrose content, or sugar yield between the treatments. However, ion content analysis revealed that flood conditions caused an accumulation of sodium in the bottom of stems and adventitious roots. Therefore, under flood conditions, plants may develop adventitious roots, which may offset the negative effects of root death, helping them to maintain their growth and yield.     

Simulation of the effects of genotype and N availability on rice growth and yield response to an elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration

The objective of this study was to identify physiological processes that result in genotypic and N fertilization effects on rice yield response to elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations ([CO₂]). This study conducted growth and yield simulations for 9 rice genotypes grown at 4 climatically different sites in Asia, assuming the current atmospheric [CO₂] (360 ppm) and elevated [CO₂] (700 ppm) using 5 levels of N fertilizer (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 g m⁻² N fertilizer). A rice growth model that was developed and already validated for 9 different genotypes grown under 7 sites in Asia was used for the simulation, integrating additional components into the model to explain the direct effect of [CO₂] on several physiological processes. The model predicted that the relative yield response to elevated [CO₂] (RY, the ratio of yield under 700 ppm [CO₂] to that under 360 ppm [CO₂]) increased with increasing N fertilizer, ranging from 1.12 at 4 g m⁻² N fertilizer to 1.22 at 20 g m⁻² N fertilizer, averaged overall genotypes and locations. The model also predicted a large genotypic variation in RY at the 20 g N treatment, ranging from 1.08 for ‘WAB450-I-B-P-38-HB’ to 1.41 for ‘Takanari’ averaged overall locations. Combining all genotypes grown at the 5N fertilization conditions, a close 1:1 relationship was predicted between RY and the relative [CO₂] response in spikelet number for crops with a small number of spikelets (less than 30,000 m⁻²) under the current atmospheric [CO₂] (n = 18, r = 0.89^***). In contrast, crops with a large number of spikelets under the current atmospheric [CO₂] showed a significantly larger RY than the relative [CO₂] response for spikelet number per unit area. The model predicted that crops with a larger number of spikelets under the current atmospheric [CO₂] derived great benefit from elevated [CO₂] by directly allocating increased carbohydrate to their large, vacant sink, whereas crops with a smaller number of spikelets primarily required an increased spikelet number to use the increased carbohydrate to fill grains. The simulation analyses suggested that rice with a larger sink capacity relative to source availability under the current atmospheric [CO₂] showed a larger yield response to elevated [CO₂], irrespective of whether genotype or N availability was the major factor for the large sink capacity under the current [CO₂]. The model predicted that the RY response to nitrogen was brought about through the N effects on spikelet number and non-structural carbohydrate accumulation. The genotypic variation in RY was related to differences in spikelet differentiation efficiency per unit plant N content. Further model validation about the effects of [CO₂] on growth processes is required to confirm these findings considering data from experimental studies.     

Yield formation of CO2-enriched hybrid rice cultivar Shanyou 63 under fully open-air field conditions

Hybrid indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars play an important role in rice production system due to its heterosis, resistance to environmental stress, large panicle and high yield potential. However, no attention has been given to its yield responses to rising atmospheric [CO₂] in conjunction with nitrogen (N) availability. Therefore we conducted a free air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiment at Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China (119°42′0′′E, 32°35′5′′N), in 2004–2006. A three-line hybrid indica rice cv. Shanyou 63 was grown at ambient and elevated (ca. 570 μmol mol⁻¹) [CO₂] under two levels of supplemental N (12.5 g Nm⁻² and 25 g Nm⁻²). Elevated [CO₂] had no effect on phenology, but substantially enhanced grain yield (+34%). The magnitude of yield response to [CO₂] was independent of N fertilization, but varied among different years. On average, elevated [CO₂] increased the panicle number per square meter by 10%, due to an increase in maximum tiller number under enrich [CO₂], while productive tiller ratio remained unaffected. Spikelet number per panicle also showed an average increase of 10% due to elevated [CO₂], which was supported by increased plant height and stem dry weight per tiller. Meanwhile, elevated [CO₂] caused a significant enhancement in both filled spikelet percentage (+5%) and individual grain weight (+4%). Compared with the two prior FACE studies on rice, hybrid indica rice cultivar appears to profit much more from elevated [CO₂] than japonica rice cultivar (ca. +13%), not only due to its stronger sink generation, but also enhanced capacity to utilize the carbon sources in a high [CO₂] environment. The above data has significant implication with respect to N strategies and cultivar selection under projected future [CO₂] levels.     

A meta-analysis of climate change effects on forage quality in grasslands: specificities of mountain and Mediterranean areas

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), global mean temperature and interannual variability in temperature and rainfall are expected to increase significantly by the end of the 21st century. To review the effects of these factors on forage quality, we carried out a meta-analysis of climate manipulation experiments. The first notable result was a lack of effect of elevated CO₂ on structural carbohydrates and digestibility. Elevated CO₂ increased the total non-structural carbohydrates of forage tissues by an average of 25% and decreased forage nitrogen (N) content by 8%. Increased legume abundance in multispecies swards can, however, maintain N concentration in the harvested biomass. There were no consistent effects of warming on contents of N, water-soluble and structural carbohydrates, or on digestibility. We highlight the continuum in the effect of water availability, from drought to irrigation, with a curvilinear increase of forage N as water availability decreased. Digestibility increased, on average, by 7% with drought, but with strong experimental variations. The review places special emphasis on discussion of the specificities of mountain and Mediterranean grasslands, the former being limited by low temperature, the latter by drought and heat. Elevated CO₂ decreased forage N content in mountain areas and in temperate plains alike. It increased N content by an average of 3% in Mediterranean areas; this could be due to shifts in vegetation communities under elevated CO₂ or to a greater concentration of N in plant tissues under drought conditions. Further experiments are needed to investigate the effects of combined factors, including extreme climatic events.     

Methodologies for simulating impacts of climate change on crop production

Ecophysiological models are widely used to forecast potential impacts of climate change on future agricultural productivity and to examine options for adaptation by local stakeholders and policy makers. However, protocols followed in such assessments vary to such an extent that they constrain cross-study syntheses and increase the potential for bias in projected impacts. We reviewed 221 peer-reviewed papers that used crop simulation models to examine diverse aspects of how climate change might affect agricultural systems. Six subject areas were examined: target crops and regions; the crop model(s) used and their characteristics; sources and application of data on [CO₂] and climate; impact parameters evaluated; assessment of variability or risk; and adaptation strategies. Wheat, maize, soybean and rice were considered in approximately 170 papers. The USA (55 papers) and Europe (64 papers) were the dominant regions studied. The most frequent approach used to simulate response to CO₂ involved adjusting daily radiation use efficiency (RUE) and transpiration, precluding consideration of the interacting effects of CO₂, stomatal conductance and canopy temperature, which are expected to exacerbate effects of global warming. The assumed baseline [CO₂] typically corresponded to conditions 10-30 years earlier than the date the paper was accepted, exaggerating the relative impacts of increased [CO₂]. Due in part to the diverse scenarios for increases in greenhouse gas emissions, assumed future [CO₂] also varied greatly, further complicating comparisons among studies. Papers considering adaptation predominantly examined changes in planting dates and cultivars; only 20 papers tested different tillage practices or crop rotations. Risk was quantified in over half the papers, mainly in relation to variability in yield or effects of water deficits, but the limited consideration of other factors affecting risk beside climate change per se suggests that impacts of climate change were overestimated relative to background variability. A coordinated crop, climate and soil data resource would allow researchers to focus on underlying science. More extensive model intercomparison, facilitated by modular software, should strengthen the biological realism of predictions and clarify the limits of our ability to forecast agricultural impacts of climate change on crop production and associated food security as well as to evaluate potential for adaptation.     

Effects of Elevated Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentration on Silica Deposition in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Panicle

Abstract

The effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) on silica deposition on husk epidermis of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Akitakomachi) during the flowering stage were investigated in this study. The study was motivated by the concept that the rice yield maybe affected by global warming as a result of elevated [CO₂] environment since sterility of rice is related to the panicle silica content that influences transpiration, and elevated [CO₂] could affect plant transpiration. Silica deposition analysis was focused on the flowering stage of the rice crop grown hydroponically under two [CO₂] conditions: 350 μmol mol-¹ (ambient) and 700 μmol mol-¹ (elevated). Silica deposition on the husk epidermis from three parts of the panicle at four flowering stages were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) combined with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalyzer (EDX). The results demonstrated that elevated [CO₂] significantly suppressed silica deposition on the husk epidermis at the lower part of the panicle, and at the early flowering stage when 1/3 of the panicle emerged from the leaf sheath. In the transverse section analysis of the husk, silica deposition on the husk epidermis under elevated [CO₂] was less than that under ambient [CO₂] at the late flowering stage. The less silica deposition observed on the husks at the late flowering stage under elevated [CO₂] might be related to the suppressed transpiration from the panicle by elevated [CO₂] found in a previous study.     

Impacts of elevated atmospheric CO2 and temperature on plant community structure of a temperate grassland are modulated by cutting frequency

To determine the impacts of climate change and defoliation on the community structure and plant diversity of a semi‐natural temperate grassland, monoliths of a permanent grassland were exposed to ambient or elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (ambient + 235 ppmv) and temperature (ambient + 3°C) from October 1998 to December 2000. The monoliths were subjected to two different cutting frequencies, either two or six cuts per year. The grassland community structure changed during the course of the experiment and was more responsive to changes in management than to changes in climate. Increased cutting frequency stimulated plant diversity by enhancing the number of forb species, but plant diversity was not significantly affected by climate change. The contribution of individual plant species to the vegetation cover revealed species‐specific responses to climate change and cutting frequency, but for most species significant interactions between climate change and cutting frequency were present. There were no clear‐cut effects of treatments on the total annual yield and the proportion of forbs present, as significant interactions between climate change and cutting frequency occurred. It is concluded that differential grassland management will modify plant species‐specific responses to climate change and resulting changes in the botanical composition of mixed‐species, temperate grasslands.     

High-temperature-tolerant mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) lines produce better yields when exposed to higher CO2 levels

Increasing global air temperatures, along with rising CO₂ levels, are causing concerns about reducing available freshwater resources and altering cropping patterns. They may influence overall growth and production pattern of crop plants. These likely changes would become major limiting factors for future sustainable food production largely in the tropics and subtropics. Thus, understanding physiological responses hold the key to determining the functional relationship between the environment and crop performance. We explore here the impact of rising CO₂ on the growth and yield traits of a few selected high-temperature (HT)-tolerant mungbean lines, which we earlier screened for HT tolerance using a physiological assay under managed growth conditions. The HT-tolerant lines grown under elevated CO₂ levels (550 and 700 μL L^?1) showed a considerable improvement in growth rates (13.5%, 67.8%, and 46.5% in plant height, leaf area, and total dry matter, respectively) and pod and seed yield (48.7% and 31.7%, respectively), compared to local checks under the same environments. Interestingly, the symptoms of accelerated pod maturity were also observed in most of these lines. The outcome of the study would undoubtedly open up opportunities for increased yield potentials of legumes under the conditions of the warming climate and elevated levels of carbon dioxide.