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We investigated the fate of carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbed by roots or internally produced by respiration using gas exchange and stable isotopic labeling. CO2 efflux from detached leaves supplied with bicarbonate/CO2 solutions was followed over six cycles. CO2 effluxes were detected when bicarbonate solution at high pH was used, corresponding to 71–85% of the expected efflux. No CO2 efflux was detected when CO2 solutions at low pH were used but CO2 efflux was subsequently detected as soon as bicarbonate solutions at high pH were supplied. By sealing the leaf and petiole in a plastic bag to reduce diffusion to the atmosphere, a small CO2 efflux signal (14–30% of the expected efflux) was detected suggesting that CO2 in the xylem stream can readily escape to the atmosphere before reaching the leaf. When the root‐zones of intact plants were exposed to CO2 solutions, a significant efflux from leaf surface was observed (13% of the expected efflux). However, no signal was detected when roots were exposed to a high pH bicarbonate solution. Isotopic tracer experiments confirmed that CO2 supplied to the root‐zone was transported through the plant and was readily lost to the atmosphere. However, little 13C moved to the shoot when roots were exposed to bicarbonate solutions at pH 8, suggesting that bicarbonate does not pass into the xylem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (e[CO2]) can stimulate the photosynthesis and productivity of C3 species including food and forest crops. Intraspecific variation in responsiveness to e[CO2] can be exploited to increase productivity under e[CO2]. However, active selection of genotypes to increase productivity under e[CO2] is rarely performed across a wide range of germplasm, because of constraints of space and the cost of CO2 fumigation facilities. If we are to capitalise on recent advances in whole genome sequencing, approaches are required to help overcome these issues of space and cost. Here, we discuss the advantage of applying prescreening as a tool in large genome × e[CO2] experiments, where a surrogate for e[CO2] was used to select cultivars for more detailed analysis under e[CO2] conditions. We discuss why phenotypic prescreening in population-wide screening for e[CO2] responsiveness is necessary, what approaches could be used for prescreening for e[CO2] responsiveness, and how the data can be used to improve genetic selection of high-performing cultivars. We do this within the framework of understanding the strengths and limitations of genotype–phenotype mapping. There is population-wide variation in the responsiveness of trees and crops to higher atmospheric CO2 that could be exploited to improve future productivity but studies are limited by access to suitable facilities. We examined prescreening as a tool in large genome × CO2 experiments to limit the size and cost of experiments. Our review identified approaches that can be used for prescreening and how the data can improve genetic selection of high-performing cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration on the morphology of leaf blades in two Chinese yam lines under different temperature conditions were determined. Plants were grown under two [CO2] levels, ambient (about 400 µmol mol−1) and elevated (ambient + 200 µmol mol−1) in the daytime, and two mean air temperature regimes, approximately ambient temperature (22.2°C) and high temperature (25.6°C). The palisade layer was thicker under elevated [CO2] than under ambient [CO2] in both temperature regimes, and the whole yam leaf blade was thicker under elevated [CO2] than under ambient [CO2] in the approximately ambient temperature regime. The numbers of chloroplasts per palisade cell and spongy cell as well as per unit profile area of palisade cell, number of starch grains per chloroplast, profile area of the starch grain, and starch-to-chloroplast area ratio in both palisade and spongy cells were higher under elevated [CO2] than under ambient [CO2] in both temperature regimes. Furthermore, the stomatal density on the abaxial side of the leaf blade in Chinese yam was greater under elevated [CO2] than under ambient [CO2] under both temperature regimes, and stomatal-pore length was higher under elevated [CO2] than under ambient [CO2] in the approximately ambient temperature regime. These results indicate that elevated [CO2] positively affects the photosynthetic apparatus. The results of this study provide information for understanding the response characteristics of the leaf blade under elevated [CO2] and a possible explanation for the positive photosynthetic responses of Chinese yam to elevated [CO2] in our previous study. List of Abbreviations:[CO2]: carbon dioxide concentration [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) and air temperature on the germination of seed bulbils and the seedling vigour of two Chinese yam lines. Plants were grown under two [CO2] levels, ambient and elevated (ambient + 200 μmol mol−1), and two mean air temperature regimes, 22.2 °C (ambient + 1.4 °C) and 25.6 °C (ambient + 5.2 °C). Elevated [CO2] did not affect bulbil germination under both air temperature regimes. During the early growth stage, the dry weight (DW) of leaves, vines, shoots, roots, belowground parts (roots + tubers) and whole plants were higher under elevated [CO2] than ambient [CO2] for both lines under the low- and high-temperature regimes. The values of vigour indexes (index I = germination % × seedling length and index II = germination % × seedling DW) were also higher under elevated [CO2] than ambient [CO2] for both lines. These results indicated that Chinese yam seedlings respond positively to elevated [CO2] during the early growth stage. The above:belowground DW ratios were lower under elevated [CO2] than ambient [CO2] in seedlings with very small new tubers for both yam lines, indicating that elevated [CO2] strongly affected the root growth in the early growth stage. The DWs of post-treatment seed bulbils were higher in the elevated [CO2] under both air temperature regimes. The results showed that Chinese yam used a smaller amount of the reserves in seed bulbils under elevated [CO2] than under ambient [CO2]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese yam (‘yam’) was grown at different carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO2]), namely, ambient and elevated (ambient + 200 μmol mol−1), under low- and high-temperature regimes in summer and autumn, separately. For comparison, rice was also grown under these conditions. Mean air temperatures in the low- and high-temperatures were respectively 24.1 and 29.1 °C in summer experiment and 20.2 and 24.9 °C in autumn experiment. In summer experiment, yam vine length, leaf area, leaf dry weight (DW), and total DW were significantly higher under elevated [CO2] than ambient [CO2] in both temperature regimes. Additionally, number of leaves, vine DW, and root DW were significantly higher under elevated [CO2] than under ambient [CO2] in the low-temperature regime. In autumn experiment, tuber DW was significantly higher under elevated [CO2] than under ambient [CO2] in the high-temperature regime. These results demonstrate that yam shows positive growth responses to elevated [CO2]. Analysis of variance revealed that significant effect of [CO2] × air temperature interaction on yam total DW was not detected. Elevated-to-ambient [CO2] ratios of all growth parameters in summer experiment were higher in yam than in rice. The results suggest that the contribution of elevated [CO2] is higher in yam than in rice under summer. Yam net photosynthetic rate was significantly higher under elevated [CO2] than under ambient [CO2] in both temperature regimes in summer. Elevated [CO2] significantly affected on the rate in yam but not in rice in both experiments. These findings indicate that photosynthesis responds more readily to elevated [CO2] in yam than in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]