Interactions between elevated atmospheric CO2 and defoliation on North American rangeland plant species at low and high N availability

Although common disturbances of grazing lands like plant defoliation are expected to affect their sensitivity to increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration, almost no research has been conducted to evaluate how important such effects might be on the direct responses of rangelands to CO₂. This growth chamber experiment subjected intact plant–soil cylinders from a Wyoming, USA, prairie to a 3‐way factorial of CO₂ (370 vs. 720 μL L^?1), defoliation (non‐clipped vs. clipped) and soil nitrogen (control vs. 10 g m^?2 added N) under simulated natural climatic conditions. Above‐ and below‐ground biomass and N dynamics of the functional groups C₃ grasses, C₄ grasses and forbs were investigated. CO₂ and defoliation had independent influences on biomass and N parameters of these rangeland plants. Growth under CO₂‐enriched conditions enhanced above‐ground biomass 50% in C₃ grasses alone, while shoot N concentration declined 16% in both C₃ and C₄ grasses. Plant‐soil ¹⁵N uptake was unaffected by CO₂ treatment. In contrast, defoliation had no effect on biomass, but increased tissue N concentration 29% across all functional groups. Without additional N, forage quality, which is in direct relation to N concentration, will decline under increasing atmospheric CO₂. Increased dominance of C₃ grasses plus reduced forage quality may necessitate changes in grazing management practices in mixed‐species rangelands.     

The influence of defoliation height on dry-matter partitioning and CO2 exchange of perennial ryegrass miniature swards

This study investigated the effects of defoliation intensity on the above- and below-ground plant mass, rates of CO₂ exchange and leaf appearance rate of ryegrass miniature swards maintained at constant cutting height ranging from 20 mm to 160 mm for 5 months. Total plant mass, above-ground herbage mass and root mass increased as cutting height increased from 20 to 120 mm. Further increase in cutting height did not increase total plant mass or its components. Leaf appearance rate and photosynthesis per unit of leaf dry matter (DM) decreased as defoliation height increased from 20 to 160 mm. Gross and net CO₂ uptake per unit soil surface area increased with cutting height to 120 mm. Further increase in cutting height to 160 mm decreased gross and net CO₂ uptake and herbage harvested. A multivariate canonical discriminant analysis indicated different responses of root and shoot mass to cutting height and a reduction in CO₂ uptake rate at the 160 mm cutting height. The implications of those responses to defoliation management of forage plants are discussed.     

Differences in Response of Grain Yield,Nitrogen Absorption and Utilization to Elevated CO2 Concentration in Different Rice Varieties

【Objective】Our aim is to investigate the differences in response of grain yield, nitrogen absorption and utilization to FACE (atmospheric CO2 concentration increase) of different rice varieties. 【Method】Six rice varieties, including conventional japonica rice, hybrid indica rice, and conventional indica rice, were used to study the effects of free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) (atmospheric CO2 concentration increase) on the nitrogen absorption, utilization, and yield of different types of rice.【Result】 1) FACE treatment dramatically increased rice yield by 24.17% on average and the maximum increment was observed in conventional indica rice. Compared with other types of rice varieties, hybrid indica showed the highest grain yield under both FACE and control (CK) treatments. 2) Panicle number was significantly improved in FACE treatment with conventional japonica rice varieties having the maximum increment. Spikelet number per panicle was significantly improved in hybrid and conventional indica rice varieties in FACE treatment. 3) The nitrogen absorption (NA) and nitrogen use efficiency for grain yield (NUEg) were significantly higher in FACE treatment than those in CK treatment. The average increase of NA was 21.23% with the maximum increment in hybrid indica rice varieties. Compared with other rice varieties, conventional indica rice varieties had the highest NA both in FACE and CK treatments. The average increase of NUEg was 7.33% with hybrid indica rice varieties enjoying the maximum increment. The hybrid indica rice varieties had the highest NUEg in FACE treatment and in CK treatment, respectively. 4) Nitrogen content was decreased in FACE treatment with the average decrease of 0.105%, among which the maximum decrease was observed in conventional japonica rice. Dry matter weight was extremely and significantly increased in FACE treatment. The average increase of dry weight was 23.95% with the maximum increment in conventional indica rice varieties. NA of single panicle was significantly improved in FACE treatment with the average increase of 10.79% in conventional indica rice varieties and 13.93% in hybrid indica rice varieties, but NA of single panicle was decrease by 9.60% in conventional japonica rice. FACE treatment significantly increased rice NA intensity with an average increase of 22.29% and the maximum increment was observed in hybrid indica rice varieties. The growth duration was not influenced by FACE treatment in all rice varieties. NAs of stem, leaf and panicle were significantly higher in FACE treatment than in CK treatment with the highest increase of 51.86% in leaf. The largest increase of NA was observed in hybrid indica rice. NA in different rice growth stages was significantly improved with the maximum increment of 108.90% during heading-maturity. The maximum increment of NA from heading to maturity was observed in hybrid indica rice varieties.5) Effects of dry matter weight, NA per panicle, NA intensity, NA of panicle and NA from heading to maturity on NA at maturity were greater than those of nitrogen content, panicle number, growth duration, NAA of leaf, stem and sheath, NAA during transplanting-tillering and tillering-heading. 6) Partial productivity of nitrogen fertilizer (PFPN) was significantly improved in FACE treatment with an average increase of 24.16% and the maximum increment in conventional indica rice. NAA per 100 kg grains was significantly reduced in FACE treatment with an average decrease of 4.7%. The maximum decrease of NAA per 100 kg grains was observed in conventional indica rice varieties.【Conclusion】The results indicated that FACE could markedly increased both grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in all rice varieties, but the increases varied with the variety types.     

CO2 fertilization does not affect biomass production and nutritive value of a C4 tropical grass in short timeframe

Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a consequence of recent anthropogenic environmental changes, and few studies have evaluated its effects on tropical grasses used in Brazilian pastures, the main feed source for major part of ruminant livestock. This study evaluated forage production, chemical composition, in vitro total gas production and organic matter degradability of Brachiaria brizantha under contrasting CO₂ atmospheric conditions in a free air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) facility. The forage plants were sown in each of the 12 octagonal rings of the FACE facility: six under ambient atmospheric CO₂ concentration of approximately 390 μmol/mol, hereafter referred to as control (CON) plots, and other six rings enriched with pure CO₂ flux to achieve a target CO₂ concentration of 550 μmol/mol, hereafter called elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) plots. Soil samples were collected to determine carbon and nitrogen concentrations. After seventy days of sowing, a standardization cutting was performed and then at regular intervals of 21 days the forage was harvested (ten harvest dates) and forwarded to laboratorial analyses. Forage above‐ground biomass production (dry matter (DM): 6,143 vs. 6,554 kg/ha), as well as morphological characteristics (leaves: 71% vs. 68%; stem: 28% vs. 31%), chemical composition (crude protein: 162.9 vs. 161.8; neutral detergent fibre: 663.8 vs. 664.3; acid detergent fibre: 369.5 vs. 381; lignin: 60.1 vs. 64.1 g/kg DM; total C: 45.9 vs. 45.9; total N: 2.8 vs. 2.8; total S: 0.2% vs. 0.2%), organic matter in vitro degradability (573.5 vs. 585.3 g/kg), methane (5.7 vs. 4.3 ml/g DM) and total gas (128.3 vs. 94.5 ml/g DM) production did not differ significantly between CON and eCO₂ treatments (p > .05). The results indicated that at least under short‐term enrichment, B. brizantha was not affected by eCO₂.     

Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on grain quality of wheat

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important agricultural crops worldwide. Due to its high content of starch and unique gluten proteins, wheat grain is used for many food and non-food applications. Although grain quality is an important topic for food and feed as well as industrial processing, the consequences of future increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations on quality parameters such as nutritional and bread-making rheological properties are still unclear. Wheat productivity increases under CO₂ enrichment. Concomitantly, the chemical composition of vegetative plant parts is often changed and grain quality is altered. In particular, the decrease in grain protein concentration and changes in protein composition may have serious economic and health implications. Additionally, CO₂ enrichment affects amino acid composition and the concentrations of macro- and micro-elements. However, experimental results are often inconsistent. The present review summarises the results from numerous CO₂ enrichment experiments using different exposure techniques in order to quantify the potential impacts of projected atmospheric CO₂ levels on wheat grain yield and on aspects of grain composition relevant to processing and human nutrition.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Responses of C3 and C4 grasses to application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer at two dates in the spring

In grasslands composed of C₃ and C₄ plants, a different pattern of response by the two photosynthetic types to fertilizer may change the floristic composition of the community. In this study, we evaluated the effects of an application of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer at two dates in the spring on the aerial growth of C₃ and C₄ grasses. Danthonia montevidensis and Stipa neesiana ( C₃), and Setaria geniculata and Sporobolus indicus (C₄), were selected from a native grassland of the Flooding Pampa, Argentina. Two consecutive experiments (early and late spring) were conducted in pots filled with the local soil. The C₃ grasses showed no response in aerial biomass, and only minor responses in aerial concentrations of N and P, numbers of leaves and tillers, and nutrient use efficiency to an application of P or N fertilizer. In contrast, their C₄ counterparts showed a consistent positive response. C₄ species performance was considerably influenced by date of fertilizer application in the spring. There was on average a 1·8 and a 2·5 increase in aerial biomass in early and late spring, respectively, to fertilizer application. The later date in spring was associated with higher ambient temperatures and it appeared that temperature rather than fertilizer application was the main limiting factor for C₃ species. It was concluded that the positive response in C₄ species to an application of P and N fertilizer indicates that the differences between C₃ and C₄ species were related to a higher demand to sustain greater growth rates in C₄ species.     

Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration on morphology of leaf blades in Chinese yam

ABSTRACT

The effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration on the morphology of leaf blades in two Chinese yam lines under different temperature conditions were determined. Plants were grown under two [CO₂] levels, ambient (about 400 µmol mol^?1) and elevated (ambient + 200 µmol mol^?1) in the daytime, and two mean air temperature regimes, approximately ambient temperature (22.2°C) and high temperature (25.6°C). The palisade layer was thicker under elevated [CO₂] than under ambient [CO₂] in both temperature regimes, and the whole yam leaf blade was thicker under elevated [CO₂] than under ambient [CO₂] in the approximately ambient temperature regime. The numbers of chloroplasts per palisade cell and spongy cell as well as per unit profile area of palisade cell, number of starch grains per chloroplast, profile area of the starch grain, and starch-to-chloroplast area ratio in both palisade and spongy cells were higher under elevated [CO₂] than under ambient [CO₂] in both temperature regimes. Furthermore, the stomatal density on the abaxial side of the leaf blade in Chinese yam was greater under elevated [CO₂] than under ambient [CO₂] under both temperature regimes, and stomatal-pore length was higher under elevated [CO₂] than under ambient [CO₂] in the approximately ambient temperature regime. These results indicate that elevated [CO₂] positively affects the photosynthetic apparatus. The results of this study provide information for understanding the response characteristics of the leaf blade under elevated [CO₂] and a possible explanation for the positive photosynthetic responses of Chinese yam to elevated [CO₂] in our previous study.

List of Abbreviations:[CO₂]: carbon dioxide concentration     

Effects of defoliation frequency and nitrogen fertilization on the production and potential for persistence of Dactylis glomerata sown in multispecies swards

Management decisions should facilitate the dominance of C₃ perennial grasses over annuals. This study examined the effects of defoliation frequencies and nitrogen fertilization on the productivity and potential for persistence of Dactylis glomerata L. (DG cocksfoot, perennial) in multispecies swards. Treatments were randomly applied to 24 mini‐swards of DG + Bromus willdenowii Kunth (BW prairie grass, annual/biennial) in a factorial design of four defoliation frequencies, based on number of leaves per tiller, by two nitrogen winter fertilization levels (N^? or N⁺). Regardless of fertilization, very frequent and repeated defoliations were related to decreases of about 43% of aboveground biomass and frequent defoliations with decreases of about 44% of vegetative tillers associated with horizontal space occupation and potential for persistence. Nevertheless, differences in DG aerial productivity or reserves were not detected between frequent and optimal defoliation frequencies. Combined effects of N⁺ and optimal frequency were related to root biomass increment of about 200%, compared with frequent defoliation, associated with competitiveness and survival of DG. Optimal defoliation frequency would have ecological but not production advantages, compared with frequent defoliations. The results are discussed in terms of more objective decision‐making in the management of multispecies swards.     

Effects of autumn and spring defoliation management on the dry‐matter yield and herbage quality of perennial ryegrass swards throughout the year

A small‐plot experiment was conducted in south‐west Ireland to investigate (i) the effects of pre‐closing regrowth interval and closing date on dry‐matter (DM) yield and sward structural and composition characteristics, during the autumn–winter and spring opening periods, and (ii) subsequent carryover effects. The study used a randomized block design with a factorial arrangement of treatments (4 closing dates × 2 opening dates) with a split plot (two pre‐closing regrowth intervals). The long pre‐closing (LPC) interval began on 9 August, and the short pre‐closing interval (SPC) started on 15 September. The autumn closing dates were as follows: 1 October (CD1), 15 October (CD2), 1 November (CD3) and 14 November (CD4). Plots were defoliated again on 1 February (EOD) or 1 March (LOD). On the LPC treatment, herbage yield increased from CD1 (2463 kg DM ha^?1) to CD3 (3185 kg DM ha^?1). On the SPC treatment, herbage yield was similar for CD3 and CD4, indicating a ceiling in herbage accumulation. For each 1‐d delay in closing date between CD1 and CD4, the opening herbage yield was reduced by 10 kg DM ha^?1. Herbage quality decreased as the closing date was delayed; DMD and CP decreased by 0·06 and 12 g kg DM^?1, respectively, between CD1 and CD4. The EOD resulted in increased leaf and decreased dead proportions over the LOD treatments. A balance between autumn CD and spring OD needs to be achieved to ensure a sufficient supply of high‐quality grass in spring.     

Effects of elevated CO2 concentration on growth and photosynthesis of Chinese yam under different temperature regimes

Chinese yam (‘yam’) was grown at different carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO₂]), namely, ambient and elevated (ambient + 200 μmol mol^?1), under low- and high-temperature regimes in summer and autumn, separately. For comparison, rice was also grown under these conditions. Mean air temperatures in the low- and high-temperatures were respectively 24.1 and 29.1 °C in summer experiment and 20.2 and 24.9 °C in autumn experiment. In summer experiment, yam vine length, leaf area, leaf dry weight (DW), and total DW were significantly higher under elevated [CO₂] than ambient [CO₂] in both temperature regimes. Additionally, number of leaves, vine DW, and root DW were significantly higher under elevated [CO₂] than under ambient [CO₂] in the low-temperature regime. In autumn experiment, tuber DW was significantly higher under elevated [CO₂] than under ambient [CO₂] in the high-temperature regime. These results demonstrate that yam shows positive growth responses to elevated [CO₂]. Analysis of variance revealed that significant effect of [CO₂] × air temperature interaction on yam total DW was not detected. Elevated-to-ambient [CO₂] ratios of all growth parameters in summer experiment were higher in yam than in rice. The results suggest that the contribution of elevated [CO₂] is higher in yam than in rice under summer. Yam net photosynthetic rate was significantly higher under elevated [CO₂] than under ambient [CO₂] in both temperature regimes in summer. Elevated [CO₂] significantly affected on the rate in yam but not in rice in both experiments. These findings indicate that photosynthesis responds more readily to elevated [CO₂] in yam than in rice.     

不同浓度CO2对蕹菜产量和品质的影响

在南方温室大棚栽培环境下,以泰国柳叶蕹菜为试材,研究不同浓度CO2对蕹菜生长发育及若干生理生化指标的影响.结果表明:蕹菜的株高、茎粗、叶面积、鲜重随CO2浓度的升高而增加,其中以CO2浓度为1 200μL/L增加的效果最佳.CO2施肥可明显提高蕹菜叶片碳水化合物的积累,促进光合产物的运输和分配,蕹菜叶片中可溶性糖含量随CO2浓度的升高而明显增加,可溶性蛋白质含量在浓度1 200μL/L的CO2处理14d时增加效果最佳.而叶片中的硝酸盐含量在处理7d和14d时随着CO2浓度的升高而增加,处理21 d后随CO2浓度的升高而减少.     

晚稻根际土壤特性对CH4和N2O排放的影响

为进一步揭示水稻根际土壤特性对CH4和N2O排放的影响机理,采用静态暗箱/气相色谱法对晚稻不同品种的CH₄和N₂O排放通量进行了原位观测,并对CH₄和N₂O排放通量与水稻根际土壤特性的相关性进行了分析。结果表明：不同品种CH₄、N₂O季平均排放通量间存在差异,变化范围分别为9.27～14.57 mg/（m²·h）、7.16～15.28 μg/（m²·h）;CH₄排放通量与5 cm处土壤Eh值呈极显著负相关（p<0.01）,与pH值呈显著正相关（p<0.05）;N2O排放通量与5 cm处土壤Eh呈负相关,但不显著,与pH值呈显著负相关（p<0.05）。CH₄排放通量与0～7、7～13、13～20处土壤溶液中CH4浓度均呈显著正相关（p<0.05）,N₂O排放通量与7～13 cm处N₂O浓度呈显著正相关（p<0.05）;CH₄、N₂O排放通量与0～7、7～13、13～20 cm处土壤溶液pH值均呈显著负相关（p<0.05）,CH₄排放通量与电导率呈极显著正相关（p<0.01）,N₂O与电导率呈负相关,但不显著。因此,水稻根际土壤Eh、pH、电导率以及CH₄浓度是影响CH₄排放的重要因素,根际土壤pH与N₂O排放密切相关。     

Erratum to “Modeling the interactive effects of atmospheric CO2 and N on rice growth and yield” [Field Crops Res. 93 (2005) 237–251]

The publisher regrets that the following error has occurred in the above article: page 239, Table 1, and page 247, Table 5 should be replaced with below Tables in the original printing of the above-mentioned paper.     

Effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment on biomass,yield and low molecular weight metabolites in wheat grain

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown in a free-air carbon dioxide (CO₂) enrichment (FACE) field experiment. Grain and biomass yield and its components were determined at maturity and the grain metabolome was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Elevated CO₂ (537 versus 409 μl l⁻¹) increased biomass production except for leaves. In total, levels of 16 grain metabolites were decreased and four were increased. CO₂ enrichment resulted in significant decreases of amino acids such as o-acetyl-L-homoserine, leucine, arginine, L-homoserine and the group of ornithine, arginine and citrulline and negative trends for norleucine, L-aspartate, proline, L-cysteine and tyrosine. The amines D/L-diaminopimelate and alpha-ketoaminobutyrate and the polyamine putrescine were significantly decreased. In contrast, the polyamine spermidine tended to increase under elevated CO₂. Among sugars and sugar derivatives, ribose-5-P was significantly increased, while gluconate-6-P was decreased. There were also negative CO₂-induced effects on sugar alcohols: significant for glycerol-2-P (P = 0.008) and almost significant for myo-inositol-P (P = 0.066). In contrast, organic acids such as pyruvate and glucuronic acid were significantly increased. Overall, the N-rich metabolites especially were reduced. CO₂ enrichment can markedly affect the physiology and metabolome of mature grains which may in turn lead to changes in nutritional status.     

NaCl和Na2SO4胁迫对玉米幼苗渗透调节物质含量的影响

研究了NaCl和Na₂SO₄胁迫对玉米幼苗电解质渗漏、根系活力及脯氨酸、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白等渗透调节物质含量的影响。结果表明，玉米在NaCl作用下其电解质渗漏、根系活力及渗透调节物质含量的变化和Na₂SO₄胁迫相似，电解质渗漏、根系活力及渗透调节物质含量均随着盐浓度的增加而加剧。NaCl胁迫下增幅大于Na₂SO₄胁迫，表明NaCl胁迫对玉米幼苗的伤害大于Na₂SO₄胁迫。     

Effects of elevated CO2 concentration on bulbil germination and early seedling growth in Chinese yam under different air temperatures

The present study investigated the effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) and air temperature on the germination of seed bulbils and the seedling vigour of two Chinese yam lines. Plants were grown under two [CO₂] levels, ambient and elevated (ambient + 200 μmol mol^?1), and two mean air temperature regimes, 22.2 °C (ambient + 1.4 °C) and 25.6 °C (ambient + 5.2 °C). Elevated [CO₂] did not affect bulbil germination under both air temperature regimes. During the early growth stage, the dry weight (DW) of leaves, vines, shoots, roots, belowground parts (roots + tubers) and whole plants were higher under elevated [CO₂] than ambient [CO₂] for both lines under the low- and high-temperature regimes. The values of vigour indexes (index I = germination % × seedling length and index II = germination % × seedling DW) were also higher under elevated [CO₂] than ambient [CO₂] for both lines. These results indicated that Chinese yam seedlings respond positively to elevated [CO₂] during the early growth stage. The above:belowground DW ratios were lower under elevated [CO₂] than ambient [CO₂] in seedlings with very small new tubers for both yam lines, indicating that elevated [CO₂] strongly affected the root growth in the early growth stage. The DWs of post-treatment seed bulbils were higher in the elevated [CO₂] under both air temperature regimes. The results showed that Chinese yam used a smaller amount of the reserves in seed bulbils under elevated [CO₂] than under ambient [CO₂].     

Seasonal changes in the effects of free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) on nitrogen (N) uptake and utilization of rice at three levels of N fertilization

Over time, the relative effect of elevated [CO₂] on the photosynthesis and dry matter (DM) production of rice crops is likely to be changed with increasing duration of CO₂ exposure, but the resultant [CO₂] effects on rice N concentration, uptake, efficiency and allocation remain unclear, especially under different soil N availability. Therefore, we conducted a free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiment at Wuxi, Jiangsu, China, in 2001–2003. A japonica cultivar with large panicle was grown at ambient or elevated (ca. 200 μmol mol⁻¹ above ambient) [CO₂] under three levels of N: low (LN, 15 g N m²), medium (MN, 25 g N m²) and high N (HN, 35 g N m² (2002, 2003)). The MN level was similar to that recommended to local farmers. Averaged across all N levels and years, shoot N concentration (dry base) was lower under FACE by 1.8%, 6.1%, 12.2%, 14.3%, 12.1%, and 6.9% at early-tillering, mid-tillering, panicle initiation (PI), booting, heading and grain maturity, respectively. Shoot N uptake under FACE was enhanced by 46%, 38%, 6% and 16% on average during the growth periods from transplanting to early-tillering (period 1), early-tillering to mid-tillering (period 2), mid-tillering to PI (period 3) and heading to grain maturity (period 5), respectively, but slightly decreased by 2% in the period from PI to heading (period 4). Seasonal changes in crop response to FACE in ratio of shoot N uptake during a given growth period to that over the whole season followed a similar pattern to that of shoot N uptake, with average responses of 33%, 26%, −3%, −11% and 10% in periods 1–5 of the growth period, respectively. As a result, FACE increased final aboveground N uptake by 9% at maturity. FACE greatly reduced the ratio of leaf to shoot N content over the season, while allocation of N to stems and spikes showed an opposite trend. FACE treatment resulted in the significant increase in N use efficiency for biomass (NUEp) over the season except at early-tillering and in N use efficiency for grain yield (NUEg) at grain maturity. These results indicate that, in order to maximize grain output in a future high [CO₂] environment, the recommended rates, proportion and timing across the season of N application should be altered, in order to take full advantage of strong N uptake capacity during the early growth period and facilitate N uptake after that.