Interactive effects of elevated temperature and drought on plant carbon metabolism: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

Elevated temperature (Te) and drought often co‐occur and interactively affect plant carbon (C) metabolism and thus the ecosystem C cycling; however, the magnitude of their interaction is unclear, making the projection of global change impacts challenging. Here, we compiled 107 journal articles in which temperature and water availability were jointly manipulated, and we performed a meta‐analysis of interactive effects of Te and drought on leaf photosynthesis (Agrowth) and respiration (Rgrowth) at growth temperature, nonstructural carbohydrates and biomass of plants, and their dependencies on experimental and biological moderators (e.g., treatment intensity, plant functional type). Our results showed that, overall, there was no significant interaction of Te and drought on Agrowth. Te accelerated Rgrowth under well‐watered conditions rather than under drought conditions. The Te × drought interaction on leaf soluble sugar and starch concentrations were neutral and negative, respectively. The effect of Te and drought on plant biomass displayed a negative interaction, with Te deteriorating the drought impacts. Drought induced an increase in root to shoot ratio at ambient temperature but not at Te. The magnitudes of Te and drought negatively modulated the Te × drought interactions on Agrowth. Root biomass of woody plants was more vulnerable to drought than that of herbaceous plants at ambient temperature, but this difference diminished at Te. Perennial herbs exhibited a stronger amplifying effect of Te on plant biomass in response to drought than did annual herbs. Te exacerbated the responses of Agrowth and stomatal conductance to drought for evergreen broadleaf trees rather than for deciduous broadleaf and evergreen coniferous trees. A negative Te × drought interaction on plant biomass was observed on species‐level rather than on community‐level. Collectively, our findings provide a mechanistic understanding of the interactive effects of Te and drought on plant C metabolism, which would improve the prediction of climate change impacts.

PagSWEET17a Mediates Sugar Transport in Root and Affects Drought Tolerance in Populus alba × P. glandulosa

“…To maintain soluble sugar concentrations and subsequent osmotic adjustment, plants generally degrade starch into soluble sugars induced by drought stress [37]. Research on crops and woody plants have shown that drought can reduce starch concentration in leaf and increase levels of soluble sugars [13,14,38]. In addition to the reprogramming of carbon metabolism, plants also modulate the priority of carbon allocation to deal with the imbalance between carbon supply and carbon demand resulting from diminished photosynthesis led by drought.…”

Climate change increases net CO2assimilation in the leaves of strawberry, but not yield

“…The data were collected from sites between 30° to 60°S latitude, indicating cool to cold locations. Wang and Wang (2022) investigated the effect of temperature on gas exchange across 107 studies. Temperatures of 1° to 17°C above ambient decreased net CO 2 assimilation by 18.4%.…”

Photoinhibition and photosynthetic regulation in fluctuating light under compound stresses of drought and heat

“…Under the background of global climate change, drought and heat stresses often occur simultaneously and drastically reduce the productivity of crops (Potopová et al 2020; Wang and Wang 2023). Therefore, understanding photosynthetic mechanisms under both drought and heat (compound stresses) is vital for crop resistance.…”

“…For field crop plants, drought substantially impairs plant growth and reduces crop yield (Potopová et al 2020; Li et al 2022; Wang and Wang 2023). Some recent studies indicated that drought stress induced substantial decreases in stomatal conductance ( g s ) and mesophyll conductance ( g m ) in FL (Sakoda et al 2022; Sun et al 2023).…”