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CO 2 enrichment predisposes foliage of a eucalypt to freezing injury and reduces spring growth
Author(s) -
BARKER DAVID H.,
LOVEYS BETH R.,
EGERTON JOHN J. G.,
GORTON HOLLY,
WILLIAMS WILLIAM E.,
BALL MARILYN C.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2005.01387.x
Subject(s) - frost (temperature) , horticulture , acclimatization , spring (device) , interception , botany , environmental science , biology , ecology , geography , meteorology , mechanical engineering , engineering
Seedlings of Eucalyptus pauciflora , were grown in open‐top chambers fumigated with ambient and elevated [CO 2 ], and were divided into two populations using 10% light transmittance screens. The aim was to separate the effects of timing of light interception, temperature and [CO 2 ] on plant growth. The orientation of the screens exposed plants to a similar total irradiance, but incident during either cold mornings (east‐facing) or warm afternoons (west‐facing). Following the first autumn freezing event elevated CO 2 ‐grown plants had 10 times more necrotic leaf area than ambient CO 2 plants. West‐facing plants had significantly greater (25% more) leaf damage and lower photochemical efficiency ( F v / F m ) in comparison with east‐facing plants. Following a late spring freezing event east‐facing elevated CO 2 plants suffered a greater sustained loss in F v / F m than west‐facing elevated CO 2 ‐ and ambient CO 2 ‐grown plants. Stomatal conductance was lower under elevated CO 2 than ambient CO 2 except during late spring, with the highest leaf temperatures occurring in west‐facing plants under elevated CO 2 . These higher leaf temperatures apparently interfered with cold acclimation thereby enhancing frost damage and reducing the ability to take advantage of optimal growing conditions under elevated CO 2 .