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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 3, NUMBER 9, SEPTEMBER 1990

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
EFFECTS OF CO₂ ON VEGETATION

Item #d90sep59

"Plant Responses to Rising Carbon Dioxide and Potential Interactions with Air Pollutants," L.H. Allen Jr. (Dept. Agron., Univ. Florida, Gainesville FL 32611), J. Environ. Qual., 19(1), 15-34, Jan.-Mar. 1990.

Review of research shows that elevated CO₂ increases photosynthetic rates, leaf area, biomass, and yield. It also reduces transpiration rate per unit leaf area, but not in proportion to reduction of stomatal conductance, because foliage temperature tends to rise. An example calculation shows that reduction in stomatal conductance by doubled CO₂ could potentially reduce the effects of ambient O3 and SO2 by 15%. Recommends further research.

Item #d90sep60

"Interactive Effects of CO₂ and Environment on Net Photosynthesis of Water-Lily," S.G. Allen (U.S. Water Conserv. Lab., 4331 E. Broadway, Phoenix AZ 85040), S.B. Idso, B.A. Kimball, Agric., Ecosys. Environ., 30(1/2), 81-88, Jan. 1990.

Water lilies were grown outdoors in open-top CO₂ enriched chambers and subjected to ambient or twice ambient levels of CO₂. In conditions generally unfavorable for net photosynthesis (low light and low temperature), there was no difference in the photosynthetic rate between the two CO₂ treatments. However, under favorable conditions (high light and high temperature) the photosynthetic rate was as much as 60% greater at the doubled CO₂ concentration level.

Item #d90sep61

"Developmental Responses of Rice to Photoperiod and Carbon Dioxide Concentration," J.T. Baker (Agron. Dept., Univ. Florida, Gainesville FL 32611), L.H. Allen et al., Agric. For. Meteor., 50, 201-210, 1990.

Determined the developmental responses of a modern, improved rice cultivar to a range of CO₂ concentrations under two contrasting photoperiods. The first or early-planted rice experiment was conducted with photoperiod extension lights during the vegetative phase of development, while the second or late-planted rice experiment was conducted using only naturally occurring photoperiod. In both experiments, mainstem leaf developmental rates were greater during vegetative (rather than reproductive) growth stages, and leaf appearance rates increased with CO₂ treatment during vegetative development.

Item #d90sep62

"Influence of Phosphorus Deficiency on the Growth Response of Four Families of Pinus radiata Seedlings to CO₂-Enriched Atmospheres," J.P. Conroy (Sch. Biol. Sci., Macquarie Univ., N.S.W. 2109, Australia), P.J. Milham et al., For. Ecol. Mgmt., 30, 175-188, 1990.

Seedlings of all four families were exposed to ambient and double CO₂ concentration levels in controlled-environment chambers for 16 weeks. Results indicate that the higher levels of atmospheric CO₂ expected in the next century will increase the growth of P. radiata where P availability is adequate, but may reduce growth in areas where rainfall is low.

Item #d90sep63

"The Effects of Enriched CO₂ Atmospheres on Plant-Insect Herbivore Interactions: Growth Responses of Larvae of the Specialist Butterfly, Junonia coenia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)," E.D. Fajer (Museum Comparative Zool., 26 Oxford St., Harvard Univ., Cambridge MA 02138), Oecologia, 81, 514-520, 1989.

Reared both early and penultimate instar larvae of the buckeye on major hostplants grown in ambient or doubled CO₂ atmospheres. Despite consuming more foliage, early instar larvae experienced reduced growth on high CO₂-grown compared to ambient CO₂-grown leaves. Penultimate instar larvae had similar growth rates for both cases. Suggests that differences in growth responses by early instar larvae may be due to the inability to efficiently process the increased flow of food through the gut caused by additional consumption of high CO₂ foliage.