Tomato meets the dietary nutrient and antioxidant requirements of diverse populations. Being a C 3 crop and an important vegetable, it is likely to be influenced by increased CO 2 concentrations under climate change situation. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of elevated CO 2 on overall physiology, water relations, growth, yield, and fruit quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) cv. Arka Ashish. Plants were grown at elevated CO 2 [550 (EC 550 ) and 700 (EC 700 ) ppm of CO 2 ] in open top chambers. Increased assimilation rate, decreased stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were observed at elevated CO 2 (EC) concentrations. Reduced leaf osmotic potential and increased water potential were observed at EC compared with the control (380 ppm of CO 2 ) in flowering and fruiting stages. Lower total chlorophyll content was recorded at EC 700 . Plant height was significantly higher at EC 550 compared with EC 700 . Higher number of branches was observed at EC 700 as compared with plants grown at EC 550 and the control. Leaf area was lower at EC 700 compared with EC 550 but specific leaf mass was higher at EC 700 . Due to higher leaf dry mass and root dry mass, the plants grown at EC 700 exhibited higher total dry mass compared to EC 550 and the control. Increased number of flowers and fruits together with higher fruit set led to higher fruit yield at both EC concentrations. The highest yield increase was observed at EC 700 . The fruits showed a lower content of phenols, flavonoids, ferric reducing antioxidant potential, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity in plants grown at EC as compared with the control. The ascorbic acid content was high at both EC 700 and EC 550 . Carotenoids and lycopene content was low at EC 700 compared to higher content observed at EC 550 and the control.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract