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Germination of CO2-enriched Pinus taeda L. seeds and subsequent seedling growth responses to CO2 enrichment

  1. M. Hussain1,
  2. M. E. Kubiske1,†,
  3. K. F. Connor2

Article first published online: 20 DEC 2001

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2001.00521.x

Issue

Functional Ecology

Functional Ecology

Volume 15, Issue 3, pages 344–350, June 2001

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hussain, M., Kubiske, M. E. and Connor, K. F. (2001), Germination of CO2-enriched Pinus taeda L. seeds and subsequent seedling growth responses to CO2 enrichment. Functional Ecology, 15: 344–350. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2001.00521.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Mississippi State University, Department of Forestry, Box 9681, Mississippi State, MS 39762-9681, USA, and

  2. 2

    US Forest Service, 110 Thompson Hall, Box 9681, Mississippi State, MS 39762-9681, USA

  1. †

    Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mkubiske@cfr.msstate.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 DEC 2001
  2. Article first published online: 20 DEC 2001

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Keywords:

  • Elevated CO2;
  • Pinus taeda;
  • seed germination;
  • seed lipids;
  • seed production

Summary

  • 1
     Pinus taeda seeds, developed under ambient or elevated (ambient + 200 µl l−1) [CO2], were collected from Duke Forest, North Carolina, USA in October 1998. Seeds were germinated in nutrient-deficient soil in either ambient or elevated [CO2] (ambient + 200 µl l−1) greenhouse chambers and allowed to grow for 120 days.
  • 2
     Seeds that developed in elevated [CO2] had 91 and 265% greater weight and lipid content, respectively, and three times the germination success, compared to those developed in current ambient [CO2].
  • 3
     Seedlings from the elevated [CO2] seed source had significantly greater root length and more needles regardless of greenhouse chamber, but there were no treatment effects on tissue or total biomass.
  • 4
     Severely limiting nutrient conditions resulted in significant photosynthetic downregulation by seedlings grown in greenhouse chambers with elevated [CO2], regardless of seed source.
  • 5
     Our hypothesis that greater seed reserves from CO2 enrichment would synergistically affect seedling growth responses to elevated [CO2] was not strongly supported. Nonetheless, seeds produced in a CO2-enriched environment may have fundamental changes in their viability, chemistry and germination that may affect reproduction.
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