Chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations in two varieties of Pinus ponderosa seedlings subjected to long-term elevated carbon dioxide

Abstract

Two varieties of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. var. scopulorum (Rocky Mountain variety) and P. ponderosa var. ponderosa (Sierran variety)) seedlings were subjected to elevated atmospheric CO(2) for two and a half years. The CO(2) concentrations were ambient, ambient + 75 microl l(-1), ambient + 150 microl l(-1) and ambient + 300 microl l(-1), or approximately 350, 425, 500 and 650 microl l(-1) CO(2). After one and a half years of exposure to elevated CO(2) and until the end of the study, seedlings of both varieties showed symptoms of stress including mottling, mid-needle abscission and early senescence. In both varieties, exposure to CO(2) concentrations greater than ambient + 75 microl l(-1) resulted in lower chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid concentrations. At elevated CO(2) concentrations, the concentrations of pigments in needles of the Sierran variety were lower than those in the Rocky Mountain variety. Also, at elevated CO(2) concentrations, the pigment concentrations in the 1-year-old needles of both P. ponderosa varieties were lower than those in current-season needles.

Antioxidative systems, pigment and protein contents in leaves of adult mediterranean oak species (Quercus pubescens and Q. ilex) with lifetime exposure to elevated CO2

“…It is notable that under field conditions at natural CO # -enriched sites, reductions in the soluble protein contents, which have frequently been reported in the leaves of plants grown in controlled CO # -enriched environments (Webber, Nie & Long, 1994) or decreases in photosynthetic pigments (Houpis et al, 1988 ;Wullschleger, Norby, & Hendrix, 1992 ;Tausz et al, 1996) were not found. A possible reason is that the trees grown at CO # springs have lower leaf area indices, show an accelerated growth only during first few years (Ha$ ttenschwiler et al, 1997) and, thus, might be able to maintain their nutrient balance.…”

Gas exchange and growth responses to elevated CO2 and light levels in the CAM species Opuntia ficus‐indica

“…The chlorophyll content was lower in elevated CO2, especially at higher PPFDs. Reductions in chlorophyll content at doubled atmospheric CO2 also occur for O. ficus-indica in open top chambers after 10 weeks (Cui et al 1993), for the CAM species Agave vilmoriniana after 2 weeks (Szarek et al 1987), for two tropical tree species after 2 to 4 months (Oberbauer, Strain & Fetcher 1985), for Liriodendron tulipifera and Quercus alba after 6 months (Wullsehleger, Norby & Hendrix 1992), and for Pinus ponderosa after 2-5 years (Houpis et al 1988). Starch accumulation in chloroplasts and reduced grana formation under elevated CO2 could be responsible for the decreased chlorophyll content (Wulff & Strain 1982;DeLucia era/.…”

Leaf litter production and decomposition in a poplar short‐rotation coppice exposed to free air CO2 enrichment (POPFACE)

“…chlorophyll and N contents, Rubisco activity, etc.) of leaf senescence (Miller et al, 1997;Sicher & Bunce, 1997;Houpis et al, 1988;Li et al, 2000), whereas, few studies report on the dynamic of leaf fall under elevated CO 2 (Gunderson et al, 1993), although several studies collected data on litter fall in FACE experiments (Allen et al, 2000;Finzi & Schlesinger, 2002;Norby et al, 2002). In any case, contrasting results were produced.…”