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Combined effect of elevated CO2 concentration and drought on the photosynthetic apparatus and leaf morphology traits in seedlings of yellow poplar

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  • Climate Change and Biodiversity Conservation in East Asia as a token of memory for the 7th EAFES in Daegu, Korea
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Ecological Research

Abstract

To counter the threat of drought, which is expected to increase in the future, we analyzed the combined effects of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration and drought on the photosynthetic apparatus and morphological traits in seedlings of yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). The plants were grown for four months in a phytotron under different CO2 concentrations [ambient CO2, 430 ppm, AC) and elevated CO2, 640 ppm, EC] and water treatment [field capacity, FC and 50% of field capacity, FC50]. FC50 was sufficient for inducing a reduction in the photosynthetic rate of L. tulipifera. However, under FC50 combined with EC, we observed an increase in photosynthetic rate with increased photopigment content, photochemistry efficiency, and light harvesting ability. Further, decreased specific leaf area and increased wax coverage in EC suggested that EC contributed to protect chloroplasts and reduce water loss. In conclusion, functional improvements of the photosynthetic apparatus with changes in morphological traits were observed under FC50 combined with EC and EC ameliorated the adverse effect of FC50 on the seedlings of L. tulipifera.

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Acknowledgements

This work was carried out with the support of ‘Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project No. PJ01168801)’ Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Conservation, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul, 02455, Republic of Korea

    Sun-Mi Je & Sun Hee Kim

  2. Department of Environmental Horticulture, College of Natural Science, University of Seoul, Seoul, 02504, Republic of Korea

    Su Young Woo, Seong Han Lee, Myung Ja Kwak & Tae Yoon Lee

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  1. Sun-Mi Je
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  2. Su Young Woo
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  3. Seong Han Lee
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Correspondence to Su Young Woo.

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Je, SM., Woo, S.Y., Lee, S.H. et al. Combined effect of elevated CO2 concentration and drought on the photosynthetic apparatus and leaf morphology traits in seedlings of yellow poplar. Ecol Res 33, 403–412 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-017-1495-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-017-1495-7

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