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Tropospheric ozone (O3 ) is a global air pollutant that adversely affects plant growth. Whereas the impacts of O3 have previously been examined for some tropical commodity crops, no information is available for the pantropical crop, banana (Musa spp.). To address this, we exposed Australia's major banana cultivar, Williams, to a range of [O3 ] in open top chambers. In addition, we examined 46 diverse Musa lines growing in a common garden for variation in three traits that are hypothesised to shape responses to O3 : (1) leaf mass per area; (2) intrinsic water use efficiency; and (3) total antioxidant capacity. We show that O3 exposure had a significant effect on the biomass of cv. Williams, with significant reductions in both pseudostem and sucker biomass with increasing [O3 ]. This was accompanied by a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity and phenolic concentrations in older, but not younger, leaves, indicating the importance of cumulative O3 exposure. Using the observed trait diversity, we projected O3 tolerance among the 46 Musa lines growing in the common garden. Of these, cv. Williams ranked as one of the most O3 -tolerant cultivars. This suggests that other genetic lines could be even more susceptible, with implications for banana production and food security throughout the tropics.

Drought and heat stress significantly affect crop growth and productivity worldwide. It is unknown how heat interference during drought affects physiological processes dynamically in crops. Here we focussed on gas exchange and photochemistry in wheat and sorghum in response to simulated heat interference via +15°C of temperature during ~2 week drought and re-watering. Results showed that drought decreased net photosynthesis (Anet), stomatal conductance (gs), maximum velocity of ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport rate (J) in both wheat and sorghum. Heat interference did not further reduce Anet or gs. Drought increased non-photochemical quenching (Φnpq), whereas heat interference decreased Φnpq. The δ13C of leaf, stem and roots was higher in drought-treated wheat but lower in drought-treated sorghum. The results suggest that (1) even under drought conditions wheat and sorghum increased or maintained gs for transpirational cooling to alleviate negative effects by heat interference; (2) non-photochemical quenching responded differently to drought and heat stress; (3) wheat and sorghum responded in opposing patterns in δ13C. These findings point to the importance of stomatal regulation under heat crossed with drought stress and could provide useful information on development of better strategies to secure crop production for future climate change.

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (ca) will undoubtedly affect the metabolism of tropical forests worldwide; however, critical aspects of how tropical forests will respond remain largely unknown. Here, we review the current state of knowledge about physiological and ecological responses, with the aim of providing a framework that can help to guide future experimental research. Modelling studies have indicated that elevated ca can potentially stimulate photosynthesis more in the tropics than at higher latitudes, because suppression of photorespiration by elevated ca increases with temperature. However, canopy leaves in tropical forests could also potentially reach a high temperature threshold under elevated ca that will moderate the rise in photosynthesis. Belowground responses, including fine root production, nutrient foraging and soil organic matter processing, will be especially important to the integrated ecosystem response to elevated ca. Water use efficiency will increase as ca rises, potentially impacting upon soil moisture status and nutrient availability. Recruitment may be differentially altered for some functional groups, potentially decreasing ecosystem carbon storage. Whole-forest CO2 enrichment experiments are urgently needed to test predictions of tropical forest functioning under elevated ca. Smaller scale experiments in the understorey and in gaps would also be informative, and could provide stepping stones towards stand-scale manipulations.

Non-photosynthetic, or heterotrophic, tissues in C 3 plants tend to be enriched in 13 C compared with the leaves that supply them with photosynthate. This isotopic pattern has been observed for woody stems, roots, seeds and fruits, emerging leaves, and parasitic plants incapable of net CO 2 fixation. Unlike in C 3 plants, roots of herbaceous C 4 plants are generally not 13 C-enriched compared with leaves. We review six hypotheses aimed at explaining this isotopic pattern in C 3 plants: (1) variation in biochemical composition of heterotrophic tissues compared with leaves; (2) seasonal separation of growth of leaves and heterotrophic tissues, with corresponding variation in photosynthetic discrimination against 13 C; (3) differential use of day v. night sucrose between leaves and sink tissues, with day sucrose being relatively 13 C-depleted and night sucrose 13 C-enriched; (4) isotopic fractionation during dark respiration; (5) carbon fixation by PEP carboxylase; and (6) developmental variation in photosynthetic discrimination against 13 C during leaf expansion. Although hypotheses (1) and (2) may contribute to the general pattern, they cannot explain all observations. Some evidence exists in support of hypotheses (3) through to (6), although for hypothesis (6) it is largely circumstantial. Hypothesis (3) provides a promising avenue for future research. Direct tests of these hypotheses should be carried out to provide insight into the mechanisms causing within-plant variation in carbon isotope composition.

Variation in the oxygen isotope composition of within-canopy CO 2 has potential to allow partitioning of the ecosystem respiratory flux into above- and below-ground components. Recent theoretical work has highlighted the sensitivity of the oxygen isotope composition of leaf-respired CO 2 (δ Rl ) to nocturnal stomatal conductance. When the one-way flux model was tested on Ricinus communis L. large enrichments in δ Rl were observed. However, most species for which the isotope flux partitioning technique has been or would be applied (i.e. temperate tree species) are much more conservative users of water than R. communis. So, high stomatal conductance and very high enrichment of δ Rl observed may not be typical for temperate tree species. Using existing gas-exchange measurements on six temperate tree species, we demonstrate significant water loss through stomata for all species (i.e. statistically significantly greater than cuticular loss alone) at some time for some leaves during the night. δ Rl values predicted by the one-way flux model revealed that δ Rl might be very much more enriched than when the net flux alone is considered, particularly close to sunrise and sunset. Incorporation of the one-way flux model into ecosystem respiration partitioning studies will affect model outputs and interpretation of variation in the oxygen isotope composition of atmospheric CO 2 .

An expression is derived for the isotopic composition of water in leaves under conditions where the composition of water entering the leaf is not necessarily the same as that of water being transpired. The treatment is simplified and considers the average composition of the lamina and of the sites of evaporation. The concept of 'isostorage' is introduced as the product of leaf water content and the isotopic enrichment of leaf water above source water. It is shown that the rate of increase of isostorage is minus the 'isoflux' through the stomata, with the latter expressed as the product of the transpiration flux and the enrichment of the transpired water beyond source water. The approach of the isostorage to the steady state depends on the deviation of the isotopic enrichment of water at the evaporating sites from the steady value, and on the gross (one way) diffusive flux out of the leaf. To achieve model closure, it is assumed that the relationship between leaf water enrichment and that at the sites of evaporation depends on the radial Péclet number in the same manner as in the steady state. The equations have an analytical solution, and we also show how to calculate the results simply using a commonly available computer tool. The form of the equations emphasises that the one-way fluxes of water into and out of the stomata must sometimes be considered separately, rather than as a net outward flux. In this narrow sense we come to the interesting conclusion that more water usually enters the leaf from the air than from the roots.

We measured the oxygen isotope composition of both the water and dry matter components of phloem sap exported from photosynthesising Ricinus communis L. leaves. The 18 O / 16 O composition of exported dry matter matched almost exactly that expected for equilibrium with average lamina leaf water (leaf water exclusive of water associated with primary veins) with an isotope effect of α o =1.027, where α o =R o / R w , and R o and R w are 18 O / 16 O of organic molecules and water, respectively. Average lamina leaf water was enriched by 14-22‰ compared with source water under our experimental conditions, and depleted by 4-7‰, compared with evaporative site water. This showed that it is the average lamina leaf water 18 O / 16 O signal that is exported from photosynthesising leaves rather than a signal more closely related to that of evaporative site water or source water. Additionally, we found that water exported in phloem sap from photosynthesising leaves was enriched compared with source water; the mean phloem water enrichment observed for leaf petioles was 4.0 ± 1.5‰ (mean ± 1 s.d., n = 27). Phloem water collected from stem bases was also enriched compared with source water. However, the enrichment was approximately 0.8 times that observed for leaf petioles, suggesting some mixing between enriched phloem water and unenriched xylem water occurred during translocation. Results validated the assumption that organic molecules exported from photosynthesising leaves are enriched by 27‰ compared with average lamina leaf water. Furthermore, results suggest that the potential influence of enriched phloem water should be considered when interpreting the 18 O / 16 O signatures of plant organic material and plant cellulose.