Phenotypic plasticity in the submersed macrophyte potamogeton crispus as a response to elevated [co2]

Abstract

Seedlings of Potamogeton crispus were grown under condition of elevated (∼1000 μL·L−1) and ambient (∼380 μL·L−1) concentration of carbon dioxide [CO2] for 68 days. Relative growth rate in elevated [CO2] was higher than in ambient [CO2] but decreased with time during the experimental period. However, allometric analysis with total plant weight as coveriate showed that biomass allocation and morphology were unaffected by elevated [CO2] but were plant size dependent. We can conclude that allometric growth patterns of P. crispus are under strong genetic control, rather than environmental CO2 control. © 2004, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.