Response of two old field perennials to interactions of CO/sub 2/ enrichment and drought stress. [aster pilosus and andropogon virginicus L]

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Am. J. Bot.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/2443853· OSTI ID:6101136

Wray, S M; Strain, B R

Aster pilosus Willd. (aster, C/sub 3/) and Andropogon virginicus L. (broomsedge, C/sub 4/) were grown in growth chambers at 26/20 C day/night temperatures with PPFD of 1,000 ..mu..mol s/sup /minus/1/ m/sup /minus/2/. Water was withheld for a 2-wk drought period under three CO/sub 2/ concentrations (approximately 380, 500, and 650 ..mu..l l/sup /minus/1/). There were significant effects of CO/sub 2/ enrichment on aster so that drought stress did not occur in plants grown with CO/sub 2/ enrichment. Non-watered plants with CO/sub 2/ enrichment had greater leaf water potentials, greater photosynthetic rates, and greater total dry wt than non-watered plants grown at 380..mu..l l/sup /minus/1/ CO/sub 2/. The response of broomsedge to drought was the same in all CO/sub 2/ treatments and there was no significant interaction of CO/sub 2/ enrichment and drought. The decreased severity of drought stress and the increased growth of aster with CO/sub 2/ enrichment may increase its competitive ability during droughts, allowing it to persist for longer periods during succession in abandoned fields. 35 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Department of Botany, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27706
• OSTI ID: 6101136
• Journal Information: Am. J. Bot.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Bot.; (United States) Vol. 73:10; ISSN AJBOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONCENTRATION RATIO
DROUGHTS
GROWTH
LEAVES
OPTIMIZATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANT GROWTH
SYNTHESIS