Open AccessWheat genotypes differing in aluminum tolerance differ in their growth response to CO 2 enrichment in acid soils
Author(s) -
Tian Qiuying,
Zhang Xinxin,
Gao Yan,
Bai Wenming,
Ge Feng,
Ma Yibing,
Zhang WenHao
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.559
Subject(s) - edaphic , shoot , soil water , biomass (ecology) , apoplast , plant growth , chemistry , biology , botany , horticulture , agronomy , ecology , cell wall
Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major factor limiting plant growth in acid soils. Elevated atmospheric CO 2 [ CO 2 ] enhances plant growth. However, there is no report on the effect of elevated [ CO 2 ] on growth of plant genotypes differing in Al tolerance grown in acid soils. We investigated the effect of short‐term elevated [ CO 2 ] on growth of Al‐tolerant ( ET 8) and Al‐sensitive ( ES 8) wheat plants and malate exudation from root apices by growing them in acid soils under ambient [ CO 2 ] and elevated [ CO 2 ] using open‐top chambers. Exposure of ET 8 plants to elevated [ CO 2 ] enhanced root biomass only. In contrast, shoot biomass of ES 8 was enhanced by elevated [ CO 2 ]. Given that exudation of malate to detoxify apoplastic Al is a mechanism for Al tolerance in wheat plants, ET 8 plants exuded greater amounts of malate from root apices than ES 8 plants under both ambient and elevated [ CO 2 ]. These results indicate that elevated [ CO 2 ] has no effect on malate exudation in both ET 8 and ES 8 plants. These novel findings have important implications for our understanding how plants respond to elevated [ CO 2 ] grown in unfavorable edaphic conditions in general and in acid soils in particular.