Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Short-term effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ on root dynamics of water-stressed maize

Author(s):

Yuzheng Zong ^{1, 2}, Zhouping Shangguan ¹*

Recieved Date: 2012-09-20, Accepted Date: 2013-01-18

Abstract:

The interactions between elevated [CO₂] and drought result in complex changes in plant root system, which challenge our current understanding.To test the effects of complex environment on plants short-term root/shoot relation with elevated [CO₂], maize (Zea mays) was planted to experience combined elevated [CO₂ ](380 or 750 µmol mol^-1, climate chamber), osmotic stress (15% PEG-6000). During the growing period, the root morphology, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations, and biomass accumulation of the maize plants were investigated. Compared to water-stressed maize in atmospheric [CO₂], the maize subject to elevated [CO₂] and water stress significantly increased their total biomass accumulation throughout the experiment period, but increased their root biomass only in the early drought stressed days. The short-term increase of root biomass mainly resulted from improved specific nodal root volumes and C and N concentrations. Beyond the early drought stressed days, different levels of [CO₂] caused root growth to take different strategies. With elevated [CO₂], maize increased its nodal root volumes to extend nodal root system, but with ambient [CO₂], maize increased its specific seminal root volume more significantly. The study demonstrated that maize was found capable of biomass accumulation with elevated [CO₂] by regulating its root morphology and C and N concentrations and this could partially alleviate drought stress that it suffered.

Keywords:

Drought, elevated [CO₂], root, carbon, nitrogen

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2013
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
Category: Environment
Pages: 1037-1041

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