Photosynthesis and fluorescence responses of C4 plant Andropogon gerardii acclimated to temperature and carbon dioxide

Abstract

Increase in both atmospheric CO2 concentration [CO2] and associated warming are likely to alter Earths' carbon balance and photosynthetic carbon fixation of dominant plant species in a given biome. An experiment was conducted in sunlit, controlled environment chambers to determine effects of atmospheric [CO2] and temperature on net photosynthetic rate (P N) and fluorescence (F) in response to internal CO 2 concentration (C i) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of the C4 species, big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman). Ten treatments were comprised of two [CO2] of 360 (ambient, AC) and 720 (elevated, EC) μmol mol-1 and five day/night temperature of 20/12, 25/17, 30/22, 35/27 and 40/32°C. Treatments were imposed from 15 d after sowing (DAS) through 130 DAS. Both F-P N/C i and F-P N/PAR response curves were measured on top most fully expanded leaves between 55 and 75 DAS. Plants grown in EC exhibited significantly higher CO2-saturated net photosynthesis (P sat), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) efficiency, and electron transport rate (ETR). At a given [CO2], increase in temperature increased P sat, PEPC efficiency, and ETR. Plants grown at EC did not differ for dark respiration rate (R D), but had significantly higher maximum photosynthesis (P max) than plants grown in AC. Increase in temperature increased Pmax, R D, and ETR, irrespective of the [CO2]. The ability of PEPC, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, and photosystem components, derived from response curves to tolerate higher temperatures (>35°C), particularly under EC, indicates the ability of C4 species to sustain photosynthetic capacity in future climates. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.