Plant Architecture and Flag Leaf Morphology of Rice Crops Exposed to Experimental Warming with Elevated CO₂

Abstract

Projected increases in atmospheric CO] tended to reduce (c. 6.6%) the LAI. At a given canopy layer, the LAI was affected neither by elevated [CO 2 ] nor by elevated T a , allocating the largest LAI in the middle part of the canopy. However, the fraction of LAI distributed in a higher and in a lower layer was strongly affected by elevated T a ; on average, the LAI distributed in the 75-90 cm (and 45-60 cm) layer of total LAI was 9.4% (and 35.0%), 18.8% (25.9%) and 18.6% (29.2%) in ambient T a , 1.3℃ and 3. 0℃ above ambient T a , respectively. Most of the parameters related to flag leaf morphology was negated with elevated [CO 2 ]; there were about 12%, 5%, 7.5%, 15% and 21% decreases in length (L), width (W), L:W ratio, area and mass of the flag leaf, respectively, at elevated [CO2]. However, the negative effect of elevated [CO 2 ] was offset to some extent by T a warming. All modifications observed were directly or indirectly associated with either stimulated leaf expansion or crop phenology under T a warming with elevated [CO 2 ]. We conclude that plant architecture and flag leaf morphology of rice can be modified both by Ta warming and elevated [CO 2 ] via altering crop phenology and the extent of leaf expansion.