Morphological Response of Jack Pine to the Interactive Effects of Carbon Dioxide, Soil Temperature and Photoperiod

Responding to the predicted shift in climate envelope jack pine, (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) might migrate 10° northward between 2071 and 2100 and will be exposed to a different photoperiod regime. Successful migration of the species might depend on the initial acclimating capability to the conditions of new location. The impacts of elevated carbon dioxide concentration [CO2], soil temperature and photoperiod on the phenological traits, growth and biomass responses in jack pine seedlings were investigated. Seedlings were grown in greenhouses under two [CO2] (400 and 950 μmol•mol-1), two soil temperatures (ambient soil temperature at seed origin and 5°C warmer) and three photoperiod regimes (photoperiods at seed origin, 5° north of the seed origin and 10° north of the seed origin). Budburst and bud setting time were recorded and the seedling height (Ht), root collar diameter (RCD), root biomass, stem biomass and leaf biomass were measured after six months of treatment. It was observed that under elevated [CO2], ambient Tsoil and photoperiods associated with 10° northward migrations budburstis advanced by 10 days. Photoperiods toward north significantly prolonged the bud setting time. However, tri-factor interactive effect on bud set was not statistically significant. Elevated [CO2] significantly (P < 0.05) increased the RCD, volume of the seedlings and total biomass and longer growing season photoperiods towards north significantly increased the seedling heights. Though elevated [CO2] significantly increased the projected leaf area, it had no significant effect on specific leaf area. Elevated [CO2] significantly reduced the shoot to root ratio, which indicated higher biomass allocation in roots under elevated [CO2]. However, all these growth and biomass responses were statistically insignificant under tri-factor interactive effects. The results suggest that climate change induced northward migration will not affect the growth of jack pine. However, a long distance migration (e.g. 10° north) will expose the species to late-spring frost damage.

N/P/K Ratios and CO₂Concentration Change Nitrogen-Photosynthesis Relationships in Black Spruce

The relationship between photosynthesis and leaf nitrogen concentration is often used to model forest carbon fixation and ratios of different nutrient elements can modify this relationship. However, the effects of nutrient ratios on this important relationship are generally not well understood. To investigate whether N/P/K ratios and CO2 concentration ([CO2]) influence relationships between photosynthesis and nitrogen, we exposed one-year-old black spruce seedlings to two [CO2] (370 and 720 μmol·mol-1), two N/P/K ratio regimes (constant (CNR) and variable (VNR) nutrient ratio) at 6 N supply levels (10 to 360 μmol·mol-1). It was found that photosynthesis (Pn) was more sensitive to nitrogen supply and N/P/K ratios under the elevated [CO2] than under ambient [CO2];under the elevated [CO2], Pn declined with increases in N supplies above 150 μmol·mol-1 in the CNR treatment but was relatively insensitive to N supplies of the same range in the VNR treatment. Further, our data suggest that the nutrient ratio and the CO2 elevation effects on photosynthesis were via their effects on the maximum rate of carboxylation (Vcmax) but not electron transport (Jmax) or triose phosphate utilization (TPU). The results suggest that the CO2 elevation increased the demand for all three nutrient elements but the increase was greater for N than for P and K. The CO2 elevation resulted in greater photosynthetic use efficiencies of N, P and K, but the increases varied with the nutrient ratio treatments. The results suggest that under elevated [CO2], higher net photosynthetic rates demand different optimal N-P-K ratios than under the current [CO2].

Soil Temperature and Phosphorus Supply Interactively Affect Physiological Responses of White Birch to CO₂Elevation

Phosphorus (P) is a common limiting nutrient element to plants and its supply and uptake by plants are strongly influenced by soil temperature. However, the interactive effects of the two factors on the physiological responses of plants to global change are poorly understood. In this study, we examined how P supply and Tsoil interacted in affecting physiological responses in white birch (Betula papyrifera) to [CO2]. We exposed seedlings to 7°C, 17°C and 27°C Tsoil, 0.1479, 0.3029 and 0.5847 mM P2O5, and 360 and 720 μmol·mol-1 [CO2] for four months. We have found that both the low soil temperature and CO2 elevation resulted in photosynthetic down regulation but the specific mechanisms of the down regulation were different between the two treatments, particularly the relative contributions of biochemical and photochemical capacity, mesophyll conductance and sink strength for carbohydrate utilization to the down regulation. Furthermore, our data suggest that morphological adjustments, such as reduced leaf size and total leaf area, were the primary form of responses in white birch to low phosphorus supply and no significant physiological acclimation to P supply was detected. Our results suggest that white birch will likely enhance water use efficiency under the projected future climate conditions with doubled carbon dioxide concentration, particularly at warmer soil temperatures. Although a trade-off between water use efficiency and nutrient use efficiency is widely accepted, our results suggest that there does not have to be a trade-off between the two, for instance, CO2 elevation increased both use efficiencies and low soil temperature and reduced nitrogen efficiency without affecting water use efficiency under elevated CO2.

Photoperiod and Nitrogen Supply Limit the Scope of Northward Migration and Seed Transfer of Black Spruce in a Future Climate Associated with Doubled Atmospheric CO2 Concentration

The predicated changes in precipitation and temperature associated with the continued elevation of atmospheric CO2 concentration will trigger the northward shift of the Climate Envelopes for 130 North America tree species by as much as 10 degrees. However, climate envelope models do not take into account changes in other factors that may also influence the survival and growth of plants at the predicted new locations, such as photoperiod and nutrient regimes. This study investigated how photoperiod and nitrogen supply would affect the ecophysiological traits of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill) B. S. P.) that are critical for survival and growth at new locations predicted by climate envelope models. We exposed black spruce seedlings to the photoperiod regime at the seed origin (PS) and that 10° north of the seed origin (PNM) as predicted by climate envelope models under the current and doubled atmospheric CO2 concentration and different levels of N supply (30 vs. 300 μmol·mol-1 N). We found that the PNM and the 30 μmol·mol-1 N supply both had negative impact on the development of seedling cold hardiness in the fall, and led to earlier burst of the terminal bud and greater rate of mortality in the following growing season. While the PNM stimulated seedling growth in the first growing season, the effect was not sustained in the second growing season. Our results suggest that the photoperiod regimes and poor nutrient conditions at higher latitudes will likely constrain the scope of the northward migration or seed transfer of black spruce.

CO_(2)升高和增温没有稀释椴树叶片氮浓度却降低了叶片的光合能力

深入理解CO_(2)升高和全球变暖对植物的影响是预测植物适应性的关键。本研究以温带阔叶耐荫树种椴树(Tilia amurensis)幼苗为试验材料,研究了当前CO_(2)浓度和气温组合处理(CC)与预测的未来气候条件下CO_(2)升高和增温组合处理(FC)对植物光合驯化的影响模式。结果发现,FC处理促进了椴树地上部分的生长,降低了叶片的光合能力(最大羧化速率和最大电子传递速率),也降低了椴树光合作用生化限制中从羧化限制向电子传递限制过渡点的光合速率。FC处理没有改变叶片氮浓度,但是提高了单株叶片的含氮量和光合氮素利用效率。这些结果表明,在椴树适应未来气候条件中发挥重要的作用的可能是叶片的氮素利用效率,而非其光合能力。本研究为理解椴树的光合驯化特征提供了新的见解,研究结果也可以用于预测椴树在未来气候条件下可能的表现。

Effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration and soil temperature on the growth and biomass responses of mountain maple (Acer spicatum) seedlings to light availability

Aims Some shade-tolerant understory tree species such as mountain maple(Acer spicatum L.)exhibit light-foraging growth habits.Changes in environmental conditions,such as the rise of carbon dioxide concentration([CO_(2)])in the atmosphere and soil warming,may affect the performance of these species under different light environments.We investigated how elevated[CO_(2)]and soil warm-ing influence the growth and biomass responses of mountain maple seedlings to light availability.Methods The treatments were two levels of light(100%and 30%of the ambient light in the greenhouse),two[CO_(2)](392μmol mol^(−1)(ambient)and 784μmol mol^(−1)(elevated))and two soil tempera-tures(Tsoil)(17 and 22℃).After one growing season,we measured seedling height,root collar diameter,leaf biomass,stem biomass and root biomass.Important findings We found that under the ambient[CO_(2)],the high-light level increased seedlings height by 70%and 56%at the low Tsoil and high Tsoil,respectively.Under the elevated[CO_(2)],however,the high-light level increased seedling height by 52%and 13%at the low Tsoil and high Tsoil,respectively.The responses of biomasses to light generally followed the response patterns of height growth under both[CO_(2)]and Tsoil and the magnitude of biomass response to light was the lowest under the elevated[CO_(2)]and warmer Tsoil.The results suggest that the elevated[CO_(2)]and warmer Tsoil under the projected future climate may have negative impact on the colonization of open sites and forest canopy gaps by mountain maple.

CO_(2)stimulation and response mechanisms vary with light supply in boreal conifers

Aims Black spruce(Picea mariana[Mill.]B.S.P.)and white spruce(Picea glauca[Moench]Voss.)are congeneric species.Both are moderately shade tolerant and widely distributed across North American boreal forests.Methods To understand light effects on their ecophysiological responses to elevated CO_(2),1-year-old seedlings were exposed to 360µmol mol−1 and 720µmol mol−1 CO_(2)at three light conditions(100%,50%and 30%of full light in the greenhouse).Foliar gas exchanges were measured in the mid-and late-growing season.Important Findings Elevated CO_(2)increased net photosynthesis(Pn)and photosynthetic water use efficiency,but it reduced stomatal conductance and transpiration.The stimulation of photosynthesis by elevated CO_(2)was greatest at 50%light and smallest at 100%.Photosynthesis,maximum carboxylation rate(Vcmax)and light-saturated rate of electron transport(Jmax)all decreased with decreasing light.Elevated CO_(2)significantly reduced Vcmax across all light treatments and both species in mid-growing season.However,the effect of elevated CO_(2)became insignificant at 30%light later in the growing season,with the response being greater in black spruce than in white spruce.Elevated CO_(2)also reduced Jmax in white spruce in both measurements while the effect became insignificant at 30%light later in the growing season.However,the effect on black spruce varied with time.Elevated CO_(2)reduced Jmax in black spruce in mid-growing season in all light treatments and the effect became insignificant at 30%light later in the growing season,while it increased Jmax later in the season at 100%and 50%light.These results suggest that both species benefited from elevated CO_(2),and that the responses varied with light supply,such that the response was primarily physiological at 100%and 50%light,while it was primarily morphological at 30%light.

Biochar and alternate partial root-zone irrigation greatly enhance the effectiveness of mulberry in remediating lead-contaminated soils

Aims Soil lead contamination has become increasingly serious and phytoremediation can provide an effective way to reclaim the contaminated soils.This study aims to examine the growth,lead resistance and lead accumulation of mulberry(Morus alba L.)seedlings at four levels of soil lead contamination with or without biochar addition under normal or alternative partial root-zone irrigation(APRI).Methods We conducted a three-factor greenhouse experiment with biochar(with vs.without biochar addition),irrigation method(APRI vs.normal irrigation)and four levels of soil lead(0,50,200 and 800 mg·kg^(-1)).The performance of the seedlings under different treatments was evaluated by measuring growth traits,osmotic substances,antioxidant enzymes and lead accumulation and translocation.Important Findings The results reveal that mulberry had a strong ability to acclimate to soil lead contamination,and that biochar and APRI synergistically increased the biomass and surface area of absorption root across all levels of soil lead.The seedlings were able to resist the severe soil lead contamination(800 mg·kg^(-1) Pb)by adjusting glutathione metabolism,and enhancing the osmotic and oxidative regulating capacity via increasing proline content and the peroxidase activity.Lead ions in the seedlings were primarily concentrated in roots and exhibited a dose–effect associated with the lead concentration in the soil.Pb,biochar and ARPI interactively affected Pb concentrations in leaves and roots,translocation factor and bioconcentration.Our results suggest that planting mulberry trees in combination with biochar addition and APRI can be used to effectively remediate lead-contaminated soils.