The effect of increased levels of carbon dioxide on chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic pigments in pinus ponderosa
- State Univ. of New York, Buffalo, NY (United States)
Levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have been increasing at an unprecedented rate in modern times. In response to this situation, we have initiated a long-term study of a forest species` response to elevated carbon dioxide levels. We have set up a facility for subjecting P. ponderosa to ambient, ambient + 175 {mu}1 1{sup {minus}1}, and ambient + 350 {mu}1 1{sup {minus}1} CO{sub 2}. This report specifically concentrates on the effects of elevated CO{sub 2} on the photosynthetic system, as indicated by chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment assays. We tested for intraspecific variability by selecting nine different families of trees from five different geographic areas of California. There are differential responses to carbon dioxide treatments which appear to be dependent upon the tree`s genotype, as indicated by the relative efficiencies of photochemical electron flow in photosystem II (Fv/Fm). During the same testing period Fv/Fm varied by as much as 21.1% relative to ambient in the treated groups. Total chlorophyll, chlorophyll {alpha} and carotenoid values all showed statistically significant (p<0.05) drops in the treatment groups regardless of genotype. Chlorophyll {alpha} at one time showed the most dramatic drop of 3 mg/m2 in the + 350 {mu}1 1{sup {minus}1} CO{sub 2} group versus the ambient. Findings for both photosynthetic pigments and chlorophyll fluorescence vary somewhat over the course of several months.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 105138
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-ID-114972-2; CONF-9405328-Absts.; ON: DE95014118; TRN: 95:006489-0001
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Science and Engineering Research Semester (SERS) student symposium, Livermore, CA (United States), 6 May 1994; Other Information: PBD: 6 May 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of SERS intership: Spring 1994 abstracts and research papers; Goldman, B.; PB: 195 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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