Acclimation of photosynthesis to elevated CO{sub 2} under low-nitrogen nutrition is affected by the capacity for assimilate utilization. Perennial ryegrass under free-air CO{sub 2} enrichment
- Univ. of Essex, Colchester (United Kingdom)
- Swiss Federal Inst. of Tech., Zurich (Switzerland). Inst. of Plant Sciences
Acclimation of photosynthesis to elevated CO{sub 2} has previously been shown to be more pronounced when N supply is poor. Is this a direct effect of N or an indirect effect of N by limiting the development of sinks for photoassimilate? This question was tested by growing a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in the field under elevated (60 Pa) and current (36 Pa) partial pressures of CO{sub 2} (pCO{sub 2}) at low and high levels of N fertilization. Cutting of this herbage crop at 4- to 8-week intervals removed about 80% of the canopy, therefore decreasing the ratio of photosynthetic area to sinks for photoassimilate. Leaf photosynthesis, in vivo carboxylation capacity, carbohydrate, N, ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase, and chloroplastic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase levels were determined for mature lamina during two consecutive summers, just before the cut, when the canopy was relatively large, growth at elevated pCO{sub 2} and low N resulted in significant decreases in carboxylation capacity and the amount of ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase protein. In high N there were no significant decreases in carboxylation capacity or proteins, but chloroplastic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase protein levels increased significantly. Elevated pCO{sub 2} resulted in a marked and significant increase in leaf carbohydrate content at low N, but had no effect at high N. This acclimation at low N was absent after the harvest, when the canopy size was small. These results suggest that acclimation under low N is caused by limitation of sink development rather than being a direct effect of N supply on photosynthesis.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 290154
- Journal Information:
- Plant Physiology (Bethesda), Vol. 118, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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