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Elevated CO2 increased photosynthesis and yield without decreasing stomatal conductance in broomcorn millet

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is one of the important C4 crops in the semiarid regions of northern China. It is a close relative of biofuel crop switchgrass. Yet, there is no information on how these crops might respond to a climate change in China. In order to gain insight into such a response, we studied the effect of elevated CO2 concentration (EC) on broomcorn millet. The changes in leaf photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, morphological parameters, biomass and yield in response to EC [i.e., + 200 µmol(CO2) mol−1] over two years were determined at the open-top chamber (OTC) experimental facility in north China. EC increased net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, transpiration rate, instantaneous transpiration efficiency, effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, and photochemical quenching coefficient of fully expanded flag leaves. Maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry declined under EC in 2013, but was not affected in 2014. EC significantly decreased intrinsic efficiency of PSII in 2013, but increased in 2014. Leaf nonphotochemical quenching decreased under EC both in 2013 and 2014. EC significantly enhanced the aboveground biomass and yield by average of 31.4 and 25.5% in both years, respectively. The increased yield of broomcorn millet under EC occurred due to the enhanced number of grains per plant. We concluded that photosynthesis of broomcorn millets was improved through increased stomatal conductance in leaves under EC, which led to an increase in height, stem diameter, aboveground biomass, and yield. This study extends our understanding of the response of this ancient C4 crop to elevated CO2 concentration.

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Abbreviations

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

CK:

control

[CO2]:

atmospheric CO2 concentration

E :

transpiration rate

EC:

elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration

ETR:

electron transport rate

F0 :

minimal fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state

F0':

minimal fluorescence yield of the light-adapted state

Fm :

maximal fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state

Fm':

maximal fluorescence yield of the light-adapted state

FM:

fresh mass

Fv/Fm :

maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

Fv'/Fm':

intrinsic efficiency of PSII

g s :

stomatal conductance

NPQ:

nonphotochemical quenching

OTC:

open-top chamber

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

qP :

photochemical quenching coefficient

WUE:

water-use efficiency (= P N/E)

WUEi :

intrinsic wateruse efficiency (= P N/g s)

ΦPSII :

effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Agronomy, Shanxi Agricultural University, 030801, Shanxi, Taigu, China

    X. Y. Hao, H. Y. Li, Y. Z. Zong, B. Zhang, J. Z. Zhao & Y. H. Han

  2. Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement on Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Crop Genetic Resources, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 030001, Shanxi, Taiyuan-, China

    X. Y. Hao, P. Li & Y. H. Han

  3. Shanxi Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Genetic Improvement of Minor Crops, Shanxi Agricultural University, 030801, Shanxi, Taigu-, China

    X. Y. Hao & Y. H. Han

Authors
  1. X. Y. Hao
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  2. P. Li
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  3. H. Y. Li
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  4. Y. Z. Zong
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  5. B. Zhang
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  6. J. Z. Zhao
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  7. Y. H. Han
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to J. Z. Zhao or Y. H. Han.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Donald Grierson for comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by the National Key Technology R&D Program in the 12th Five Year Plan of China (No. 2013BAD11B03), The National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2012 CB955904), Scientific and Technological Innovation Programs of Higher Education Institutions in Shanxi (2015146), The Key Scientific Research Projects of Coal Fund in Shanxi (FT201402-01), The National Natural Science Foundation of China (31371693, 31471556), and Shanxi Science and Technology Infrastructure Platform (2012091004-0103).

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Hao, X.Y., Li, P., Li, H.Y. et al. Elevated CO2 increased photosynthesis and yield without decreasing stomatal conductance in broomcorn millet. Photosynthetica 55, 176–183 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0226-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0226-6

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