1469-8137/asset/NPH_left.gif?v=1&s=08bb9ae88048d5716b3d3495e7b2fcfe48536ab2)
You have full text access to this OnlineOpen article
Does leaf photosynthesis adapt to CO2-enriched environments? An experiment on plants originating from three natural CO2 springs
Article first published online: 27 FEB 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02786.x
© The Authors (2009). Journal compilation © New Phytologist (2009)
Additional Information
How to Cite
Onoda, Y., Hirose, T. and Hikosaka, K. (2009), Does leaf photosynthesis adapt to CO2-enriched environments? An experiment on plants originating from three natural CO2 springs. New Phytologist, 182: 698–709. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02786.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 16 APR 2009
- Article first published online: 27 FEB 2009
- Received: 12 January 2009Accepted: 16 January 2009
Keywords:
- acclimation;
- adaptation;
- nitrogen use efficiency;
- Rubisco;
- RuBP regeneration;
- natural selection;
- starch accumulation;
- water use efficiency
Summary
- • Atmospheric CO2 elevation may act as a selective agent, which consequently may alter plant traits in the future. We investigated the adaptation to high CO2 using transplant experiments with plants originating from natural CO2 springs and from respective control sites.
- • We tested three hypotheses for adaptation to high-CO2 conditions: a higher photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE); a higher photosynthetic water use efficiency (WUE); and a higher capacity for carbohydrate transport from leaves.
- • Although elevated growth CO2 enhanced both PNUE and WUE, there was no genotypic improvement in PNUE. However, some spring plants had a higher WUE, as a result of a significant reduction in stomatal conductance, and also a lower starch concentration. Higher natural variation (assessed by the coefficient of variation) within populations in WUE and starch concentration, compared with PNUE, might be responsible for the observed population differentiation.
- • These results support the concept that atmospheric CO2 elevation can act as a selective agent on some plant traits in natural plant communities. Reduced stomatal conductance and reduced starch accumulation are highlighted for possible adaptation to high CO2.