The effect of high levels of carbon dioxide on dark respiration and growth of plants

J. REUVENI*, J. GALE

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

91 Scopus citations

Abstract

Abstract Raising ambient levels of CO2 during the night, between 350 and 950cm3m−3, reduced the dark respiration rate of Medicago sativum seedlings. The percentage effect was greater for maintenance respiration than for dark respiration as a whole, and when the plants were in a low photosynthate status. Twenty‐four h carbon balance studies confirmed a reduction in night time respiration and an increase of net carbon gain when night time [CO2] was high. Growth experiments showed a small but significant increase of dry weight in Medicago sativum seedlings exposed to high [CO2] (∼ 1200 cm3m−3) at night. This effect was greater for plants grown with Rhizobium nodules than for plants grown with nitrate in the absence of Rhizobium. A similar, but smaller and statistically non‐significant effect of high night time [CO2] on growth was found for Xanthium strumarium seedlings. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the rising CO2 content of the atmosphere.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)623-628
Number of pages6
JournalPlant, Cell and Environment
Volume8
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1985

Keywords

  • atmospheric carbon dioxide
  • carbon dioxide
  • dark respiration
  • growth
  • maintenance‐respiration
  • Medicago sativum
  • uncoupled‐respiration
  • Xanthium strumarium

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effect of high levels of carbon dioxide on dark respiration and growth of plants'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this