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Will photosynthesis of maize (Zea mays) in the US Corn Belt increase in future [CO2] rich atmospheres? An analysis of diurnal courses of CO2 uptake under free‐air concentration enrichment (FACE)
Abstract
The C 4 grass Zea mays (maize or corn) is the third most important food crop globally in terms of production and demand is predicted to increase 45% from 1997 to 2020. However, the effects of rising [CO 2] upon C 4 plants, and Z. mays specifically, are not sufficiently understood to allow accurate predictions of future crop production. A rainfed, field experiment utilizing free‐air concentration enrichment (FACE) technology in the primary area of global corn production (US Corn Belt) was undertaken to determine the effects of elevated [CO 2] on corn. FACE technology allows experimental treatments to be imposed upon a complete soil–plant–atmosphere continuum with none of the effects of experimental enclosures on plant microclimate. Crop performance was compared at ambient [CO 2] (354 μ mol mol−1) and the elevated [CO 2] (549 μmol mol−1) predicted for 2050. Previous laboratory studies suggest that under favorable growing conditions C 4 photosynthesis is not typically enhanced by elevated [CO 2]. However, stomatal conductance and transpiration are decreased, which can indirectly increase photosynthesis in dry climates. Given the deep soils and relatively high rainfall of the US Corn Belt, it was predicted that photosynthesis would not be enhanced by elevated [CO 2]. The diurnal course of gas exchange of upper canopy leaves was measured in situ across the growing season of 2002. Contrary to the prediction, growth at elevated [CO 2] significantly increased leaf photosynthetic CO 2 uptake rate (A) by up to 41%, and 10% on average. Greater A was associated with greater intercellular [CO 2], lower stomatal conductance and lower transpiration. Summer rainfall during 2002 was very close to the 50‐year average for this site, indicating that the year was not atypical or a drought year. The results call for a reassessment of the established view that C 4 photosynthesis is insensitive to elevated [CO 2] under favorable growing conditions and that the production potential of corn in the US Corn Belt will not be affected by the global rise in [CO 2].
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Citations
Cited by
Ainsworth, E. A., & Long, S. P. (2005) · New Phytologist · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01224.x · Cited by 3,624
Self-citationRISING ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE: Plants FACE the Future
Long, S. P., Ainsworth, E. A., Rogers, A., & Ort, D. R. (2004) · Annual Review of Plant Biology · doi:10.1146/annurev.arplant.55.031903.141610 · Cited by 1,715
Self-citationElevated CO2 effects on plant carbon, nitrogen, and water relations: six important lessons from FACE
Leakey, A. D. B., Ainsworth, E. A., Bernacchi, C. J., Rogers, A., Long, S. P., & Ort, D. R. (2009) · Journal of Experimental Botany · doi:10.1093/jxb/erp096 · Cited by 1,678
Self-citationC4 photosynthesis and water stress.
Ghannoum, O. (2008) · Annals of Botany · doi:10.1093/aob/mcn093 · Cited by 538
Borland, A. M., Griffiths, H., Hartwell, J., & Smith, J. A. C. (2009) · Journal of Experimental Botany · doi:10.1093/jxb/erp118 · Cited by 371
Metadata
- Authors
- Leakey, A. D. B., Bernacchi, C. J., Dohleman, F. G., Ort, D. R., & Long, S. P.
- Venue
- Global Change Biology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2004-04-26
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 951-962
- ISSN
- 1354-1013 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2486
- OpenAlex
- W2130485011
- Cited by
- 198
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 10.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
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- Leakey, A. D. B., Bernacchi, C. J., Dohleman, F. G., Ort, D. R., & Long, S. P. (2004). Will photosynthesis of maize (Zea mays) in the US Corn Belt increase in future [CO2] rich atmospheres? An analysis of diurnal courses of CO2 uptake under free‐air concentration enrichment (FACE). Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.2003.00767.x
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Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).
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