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Nitrogen assimilation and transpiration: key processes conditioning responsiveness of wheat to elevated [CO2] and temperature

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • Ivan Jauregui
  • Ricardo Aroca
  • María Garnica
  • Ángel M. Zamarreño
  • José M. García-Mina
  • Maria D. Serret
  • Martin Parry
  • Juan J. Irigoyen
  • Iker Aranjuelo
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>11/2015
<mark>Journal</mark>Physiologia Plantarum
Issue number3
Volume155
Number of pages17
Pages (from-to)338-354
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date28/05/15
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Although climate scenarios have predicted an increase in [CO2] and temperature conditions, to date few experiments have focused on the interaction of [CO2] and temperature effects in wheat development. Recent evidence suggests that photosynthetic acclimation is linked to the photorespiration and N assimilation inhibition of plants exposed to elevated CO2. The main goal of this study was to analyze the effect of interacting [CO2] and temperature on leaf photorespiration, C/N metabolism and N transport in wheat plants exposed to elevated [CO2] and temperature conditions. For this purpose, wheat plants were exposed to elevated [CO2] (400 vs 700 µmol mol−1) and temperature (ambient vs ambient + 4°C) in CO2 gradient greenhouses during the entire life cycle. Although at the agronomic level, elevated temperature had no effect on plant biomass, physiological analyses revealed that combined elevated [CO2] and temperature negatively affected photosynthetic performance. The limited energy levels resulting from the reduced respiratory and photorespiration rates of such plants were apparently inadequate to sustain nitrate reductase activity. Inhibited N assimilation was associated with a strong reduction in amino acid content, conditioned leaf soluble protein content and constrained leaf N status. Therefore, the plant response to elevated [CO2] and elevated temperature resulted in photosynthetic acclimation. The reduction in transpiration rates induced limitations in nutrient transport in leaves of plants exposed to elevated [CO2] and temperature, led to mineral depletion and therefore contributed to the inhibition of photosynthetic activity.