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Ozone tolerant maize hybrids maintain Rubisco content and activity during long‐term exposure in the field
Author(s) -
Choquette Nicole E.,
Ainsworth Elizabeth A.,
Bezodis William,
Cavanagh Amanda P.
Publication year - 2020
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/pce.13876
Subject(s) - ozone , photosynthesis , rubisco , hybrid , photosynthetic capacity , agronomy , pollutant , horticulture , biology , botany , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry
Ozone pollution is a damaging air pollutant that reduces maize yields equivalently to nutrient deficiency, heat, and aridity stress. Therefore, understanding the physiological and biochemical responses of maize to ozone pollution and identifying traits predictive of ozone tolerance is important. In this study, we examined the physiological, biochemical and yield responses of six maize hybrids to elevated ozone in the field using Free Air Ozone Enrichment. Elevated ozone stress reduced photosynthetic capacity, in vivo and in vitro, decreasing Rubisco content, but not activation state. Contrary to our hypotheses, variation in maize hybrid responses to ozone was not associated with stomatal limitation or antioxidant pools in maize. Rather, tolerance to ozone stress in the hybrid B73 × Mo17 was correlated with maintenance of leaf N content. Sensitive lines showed greater ozone‐induced senescence and loss of photosynthetic capacity compared to the tolerant line.