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Title: Carbon dioxide stimulation of photosynthesis in Liquidambar styraciflua is not sustained during a 12-year field experiment

Journal Article · · AoB Plants
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [3]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Macquarie Univ., NSW (Australia)
  3. Univ. of Western Sydney, Richmond, NSW (Australia)
+ Show Author Affiliations

We report that elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) often increases photosynthetic CO2 assimilation (A) in field studies of temperate tree species. However, there is evidence that A may decline through time due to biochemical and morphological acclimation, and environmental constraints. Indeed, at the free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) study in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, A was increased in 12-year-old sweetgum trees following 2 years of ~ 40 % enhancement of CO2. A was re-assessed a decade later to determine if the initial enhancement of photosynthesis by eCO2 was sustained through time. Measurements were conducted at prevailing CO2 and temperature on detached, re-hydrated branches using a portable gas exchange system. Photosynthetic CO2 response curves (A versus the CO2 concentration in the intercellular air space (Ci); or A-Ci curves) were contrasted with earlier measurements using leaf photosynthesis model equations. Relationships between light-saturated photosynthesis (Asat), maximum electron transport rate (Jmax), maximum Rubisco activity (Vcmax), chlorophyll content and foliar nitrogen (N) were assessed. In 1999, Asat for eCO2 treatments was 15.4± 0.8 μmol m-2 s-1, 22 % higher than aCO2 treatments (P<0.01). By 2009, Asat declined to <50 % of 1999 values, and there was no longer a significant effect of eCO2 (Asat =6.9 or 5.7± 0.7 μmol m-2 s-1 for eCO2 or aCO2, respectively). In 1999, there was no treatment effect on area-based foliar N; however, by 2008, N content in eCO2 foliage was 17% less than that in aCO2 foliage. Photosynthetic N-use efficiency (Asat : N) was greater in eCO2 in 1999 resulting in greater Asat despite similar N content, but the enhanced efficiency in eCO2 trees was lost as foliar N declined to sub-optimal levels. There was no treatment difference in the declining linear relationships between Jmax or Vcmax with declining N, or in the ratio of Jmax : Vcmax through time. Ultimately, results suggest that the initial enhancement of photosynthesis to elevated CO2 will not be sustained through time if N becomes limited.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1185630
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1261417
Journal Information:
AoB Plants, Vol. 7; ISSN 2041-2851
Publisher:
Oxford University Press; Annals of Botany CompanyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 49 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (11)

Effects of Elevated CO2 on Leaf Senescence, Leaf Nitrogen Resorption, and Late-Season Photosynthesis in Tilia americana L. journal October 2019
A dynamic leaf gas-exchange strategy is conserved in woody plants under changing ambient CO 2 : evidence from carbon isotope discrimination in paleo and CO 2 enrichment studies journal January 2016
Intraspecific variation in juvenile tree growth under elevated CO 2 alone and with O 3 : a meta-analysis journal April 2016
Different ways to die in a changing world: Consequences of climate change for tree species performance and survival through an ecophysiological perspective
  • Menezes‐Silva, Paulo Eduardo; Loram‐Lourenço, Lucas; Alves, Rauander Douglas Ferreira Barros
  • Ecology and Evolution, Vol. 9, Issue 20 https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5663
journal October 2019
Precipitation regulates plant gas exchange and its long-term response to climate change in a temperate grassland journal February 2016
A roadmap for improving the representation of photosynthesis in Earth system models journal November 2016
Effects of Elevated Carbon Dioxide on Photosynthesis and Carbon Partitioning: A Perspective on Root Sugar Sensing and Hormonal Crosstalk journal August 2017
Biotechnological strategies for improved photosynthesis in a future of elevated atmospheric CO2 journal November 2019
Ecosystem responses to elevated CO 2 governed by plant-soil interactions and the cost of nitrogen acquisition journal November 2017
Plant carbon metabolism and climate change: elevated CO 2 and temperature impacts on photosynthesis, photorespiration and respiration journal July 2018
Strong photosynthetic acclimation and enhanced water‐use efficiency in grassland functional groups persist over 21 years of CO 2 enrichment, independent of nitrogen supply journal May 2019

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60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
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down-regulation
free-air CO2 enrichment
nitrogen limitation
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
sweetgum