Response of tomato growth to continuous elevated CO_(2)concentration 2 under controlled environment

CO_(2)fumigation has been extensively used in greenhouses cultivation to enhance crop yield.The effects under the precise level of elevated CO_(2)(e[CO_(2)])on crop morphology,yield,and fruit quality remain largely elusive yet.To explore the response of plant growth to the continuous RCPs(Representative Concentration Pathways)projected CO_(2)concentration[CO_(2)],tomato(Hezuo 908)plants were grown under ambient CO_(2)(a[CO_(2)],462μmol/mol)and e[CO_(2)](550,700,850 and 1000μmol/mol):named as EC550,EC_(700),EC_(850),and EC_(1000),respectively,under uniform environmental condition for two planting seasons.Collective growth of tomato plants(plant height,stem diameter,and leaf area index)was significantly enhanced under EC_(700)and showed a slightly negative response under EC_(850).The optimum yield was stimulated under EC_(700)by 74.05%and 55.91%,while maximum total dry weight(DW_(t))was enhanced under EC_(1000)by 58.23%and 39.78%during autumn-winter and spring-summer planting seasons,respectively,as compared to a[CO_(2)].The greatest yield and least DWt stimulated under EC_(700)for both seasons indicated that EC_(700)improved the ability of the tomato plants to translocate carbohydrates to fruits.Optimum water use efficiency related to yield(WUE_(y))was enhanced by 55.91-210.87%under EC_(700)compared to a[CO_(2)].The titratable acid(TA)was improved by 19.94%(EC_(700)),29.17%(EC_(850)),and 97.92%(EC_(1000)),and the lycopene(Lp)was increased by 2.22%(EC_(700))and reduced by 2.28%(EC_(1000)).Thus,the overall optimum impact on tomato growth was explored under EC_(700).Super e[CO_(2)]did not positively influence the tomato growth process and yield under adequate water and fertilizer conditions.The present study results are beneficial for greenhouse crop production and might be used as a reference to validate the climate change influence modeling.