Growth and physiological responses of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) to elevated carbon dioxide concentrations

Abstract

The atmospheric carbon dioxide level has increased and is predicted to continue increasing, which may affect various aspects of plant growth. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of doubling the carbon dioxide level on the growth and physiological activities of a widely utilized cool-season turfgrass species, creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L. ‘Penncross’). ‘Penncross’ plants were established in fritted clay medium and maintained under well-irrigated and well-fertilized conditions in growth chambers. The plants were exposed to either ambient carbon dioxide concentrations (400±10 µmol L−1) or elevated carbon dioxide concentrations (800±10 µmol L−1) for 12 weeks. Plants grown under elevated carbon dioxide displayed a significantly faster growth rate of their lateral stems (stolons) and increased shoot and root dry weight but a reduced specific leaf area compared to those plants at ambient carbon dioxide levels. Fast stolon growth is a highly desirable trait for turfgrass establishment and recovery from physical damage. The root length and surface area were also increased due to the elevated CO2, which may facilitate water uptake and serve critical drought-avoidance roles when irrigation water is limited. Elevated carbon dioxide caused an increase in the leaf net photosynthetic rate but a reduction in the stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, contributing to improved water use efficiency in creeping bentgrass. Efficient water use is especially important for turfgrass plant survival when irrigation water is limited. Our results suggested that cool-season turfgrass species may greatly benefit from increasingly elevated carbon dioxide concentrations via growth promotion and increasing water use efficiency.

Intra-specific variation in response of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) to elevated CO2 levels and biochemical characterization of differently responding plants

“…But when the plants were exposed on increased atmospheric CO 2 the final plant biomass, above ground biomass and below ground biomass was significantly increased in tree species (Madhu & Hatfield 2013). Similarly, the shoot biomass was approximately 35% greater for creeping bentgrass plants grown under elevated CO 2 compared to plants maintained under ambient CO 2 , while the root biomass increased by 37% due to elevated CO 2 (Burgess & Huang 2014). Wang et al (2015) studied the responses of rice production under elevated CO 2 , there was significant stimulation in above ground biomass 28 per cent and below ground biomass of rice was 42 per cent increases.…”

Turfgrass and Climate Change

“…Plants respond positively to increases in atmospheric CO 2 with increased growth and improved water use efficiency . Creeping bentgrass response to increased CO 2 (400 vs. 800 μmol mol -1 ) exhibited a faster growth rate of lateral stems and increased shoot and root dry weights with reduced specific leaf area (Burgess and Huang, 2014). Net photosynthetic rates increased, along with reduced stomatal conductance and transpiration rate which improved water use efficiency with a greater effect in C 3 compared to C 4 species.…”

Impacts of abiotic stresses on the physiology and metabolism of cool‐season grasses: A review

“…Substantial increases in leaf photosynthetic rates were reported in perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass (Rogers et al., ; Song et al., ; Yu, Chen, Xu, & Huang, ) when CO 2 concentrations were doubled (800 ppm). Burgess and Huang (,b) also noted significant increases in net photosynthetic rates of creeping bentgrass. These were attributed to either the higher availability of CO 2 or the improved activation state of Rubisco.…”

“…Fu and Dernoeden () found no significant effect of mild water stress on whole‐plant respiration rates of tall fescue plants. However, in a later study, Burgess and Huang (,b) reported that metabolites, involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle of dark respiration, were downregulated in roots of drought‐stressed creeping bentgrass plants, indicating a decrease in root dark respiration rates under limited water supply conditions.…”

“…Increases in membrane damage are often observed in drought‐stressed plants, and significant increases in electrolyte leakage have been reported in cool‐season grasses, including creeping bentgrass (Burgess & Huang, ,b; Merewitz, Gianfagna, & Huang, ; Xu, Burgess, Zhang, & Huang, ), tall fescue (Huang & Gao, ; Yu, Chen, et al., ), perennial ryegrass (AbdElgawad, Farfan‐Vignolo, et al., ; Farfan‐Vignolo & Asard, ), and Kentucky bluegrass (Abraham, Meyer, Bonos, & Huang, ; Jiang & Huang, 2001b; Yang, Xu, Yu, DaCosta, & Huang, ). However, Yu, Chen, et al.…”