Assessing the Impact of Higher Levels of CO2 and Temperature and Their Interactions on Tomato (Solanumlycopersicum L.)

Abstract

Climate change has increasing effects on horticultural crops. To investigate the impact of CO2 and temperature at elevated levels on tomato production and quality of fruits an experiment was conducted by growing plants in open top chambers. The tomato plants were raised at EC550 (elevated CO2 at 550 ppm) and EC700 (elevated CO2 at 700 ppm) alone and in combination with elevated temperature (ET) + 2 °C in the open top chambers. These elevate CO2 and temperature treatment effects were compared with plants grown under ambient conditions. Outcome of the experiment indicated that growth parameters namely plant stature in terms of height (152.20 cm), leaf number (158.67), canopy spread (6127.70 cm2), leaf area (9110.68 cm2) and total dry matter (223.0 g/plant) were found to be high at EC700 compared to plants grown at ambient conditions in open field. The plants grown at EC700 also exhibited significantly higher number of flowers (273.80) and fruits (261.13), more fruit weight (90.46 g) and yield (5.09 kg plant−1) compared to plants grown at ambient conditions in open field. The percent increase in fruit yield due to EC varied from 18.37 (EC550) to 21.41 (EC700) percent respectively compared to open field and the ET by 2 °C has reduced the fruit yield by 20.01 percent. Quality traits like Total Soluble Solids (3.67 °Brix), reducing sugars (2.48%), total sugars (4.41%) and ascorbic acid (18.18 mg/100 g) were found maximum in EC700 treated tomato than other elevated conditions. Keeping quality was also improved in tomato cultivated under EC700 (25.60 days) than the open field (17.80 days). These findings reveal that CO2 at 700 ppm would be a better option to improve both quantitative as well as qualitative traits in tomato. Among the combinations, EC550 + 2 °C proved better than EC700 + 2 °C with respect to yield as well as for the quality traits. The tomato grown under ET (+2 °C) alone recorded lowest growth and yield attributes compared to open field conditions and rest of the treatments. The positive influence of EC700 is negated to an extent of 14.35 % when the EC700 combined with elevated temperature of + 2 °C. The present study clearly demonstrates that the climate change in terms of increased temperature and CO2 will have a positive effect on tomato by way of increase in production and quality of fruits. Meanwhile the increase in EC beyond 700 ppm along with ET may reduce the positive effects on yield and quality of tomato.

Effect of Elevated Carbon Dioxide Exposure on Nutrition-Health Properties of Micro-Tom Tomatoes

“…This improvement was compromised by a 2 °C temperature increase. Our results indicate that a further elevation of CO 2 up to 900 ppm generates similar results to Rangaswamy et al when considering sugar content [ 31 ]. If we did not assay the impact of temperature, we investigated protein and biological potential.…”

“…In addition, total glucose was reported, by Rangaswamy et al [ 31 ] to be enhanced by 700 ppm CO 2 . This intermediary exposure, when compared to our study, was associated with better yield and qualitative fruit quality traits.…”

Climate Stressors on Growth, Yield, and Functional Biochemistry of two Brassica Species, Kale and Mustard

“…The concentration of CO 2 lessened the effects of high temperature and UV-B, resulting in lesser reductions. Interaction of high temperatures and elevated CO 2 increased plant height, the number of leaves, and leaf area in Fragaria x ananassa [ 86 ], Capsicum annuum [ 87 ], and Solanum lycopersicum [ 88 ]. In contrast to our results, Wang et al [ 71 ] reported reduced whole plant dry weight in rice under high temperatures and elevated CO 2 [ 71 ].…”

Feeding the world: impacts of elevated [CO2] on nutrient content of greenhouse grown fruit crops and options for future yield gains

“…Similarly, tomato fruit concentration of lycopene and β-carotene (pro-vitamin A) were found to increase in response to e [CO 2 ] by as much as 30% and 70% respectively [ 13 ]. Rangaswamy et al [ 25 ] reported an increase in carotenoid (+20%) and lycopene (+31%) in the fruits of tomato plants grown at 550 ppm [CO 2 ], however carotenoid content decreased (− 12%) when the concentration was increased to 700 ppm , suggesting that the level of CO 2 enrichment impacts fruit quality and careful consideration is needed to ensure an appropriate balance between levels of e [CO 2 ] and final yield. Lycopene is an important phytonutrient, is sold commercially as a dietary supplement, and has been reported to possess anti-cancer properties and can improve cardiovascular health [ 26 , 27 ].…”