Wednesday, 9 November 2005 - 2:55 PM
241-6

Effects of Elevated Growth Carbon Dioxide and Temperature on Leaf Gas Exchange, Photosynthetic Enzyme Activities and Growth of Grain Sorghum.

P.V. Vara Prasad1, Joseph C.V. Vu2, Kenneth J. Boote1, and L. Hartwell Allen Jr.2. (1) Agronomy Department, University of Florida, 304 Newell Hall, PO Box 110500, Gainesville, FL 32611, (2) USDA-ARS, PO Box 110300, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (CO2) and temperature are likely to influence pathways of photosynthesis, growth and yield. The objective of this research was to study the effects of elevated CO2 and high temperature on leaf gas exchange, activities of Rubisco and PEPC, and growth of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench cv DeKalb 28E). Plants were grown in sunlit controlled-environment growth chambers at diurnal daytime maximum/nighttime minimum temperatures of 30/20 or 36/26°C at either ambient (350 µmol mol-1) or elevated (700 µmol mol-1) CO2. Gas exchange rates, activities of Rubisco and PEPC, leaf area and component (leaf, stem and total) dry weights were measured at different stages of leaf ontogeny and plant growth. At 6-25 days after leaf tip emergence (DALE), leaf carbon exchange rate (CER) at elevated CO2 was 20-23% greater at 30/20°C and 10-24% greater at 36/26°C. Elevated CO2 decreased stomatal conductance across all stages of leaf ontogeny by about 17%, while transpiration rates were decreased only at 30/20°C at 6 and 12 DALE. The positive response of CER to elevated CO2 was greater in young leaves compared to old leaves. In young leaves (6 and 12 DALE), elevated CO2 enhanced Rubisco activity by 22 and 23% at 30/20°C, and by 17 and 74% at 36/26°C. PEPC activity was not affected by elevated CO2 at 30/20°C, but was enhanced by 13% at 36/26°C at 6 DALE. At 30/20°C, growth (leaf, stem and total plant dry weight) was increased at elevated CO2 by 32-49% only at 50 days after sowing (DAS). At 36/26°C growth was progressively enhanced by elevated CO2 at all stages of plant growth, and was 49-62% higher at 50 DAS. Thus, for C4 grain sorghum there was an enhancement in CER and Rubisco by elevated CO2 and temperature at early stages of leaf ontogeny.

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