Abstract
The effects of elevated CO2 (650 ppm) on interactions between a chlorophyllous parasitic angiosperm, Rhinanthus minor (L.) and a host, Poa pratensis (L.) were investigated. R. minor benefited from elevate CO2, with both photosynthesis and biomass increasing, and transpiration and tissue N concentration remaining unaffected. However, this did not alleviate the negative effect of the parasite on the host; R. minor reduced host photosynthesis, transpiration, leaf area and biomass, irrespective of CO2 concentration. Elevated CO2 resulted in increased host photosynthesis, but there was no concomitant increase in biomass and foliar N decreased. It appears that the parasite may reduce host growth more by competition for nitrogen than for carbon. Contrary to expectation, R. minor did not reduce the productivity of the host-parasite association, and it actually contributed to the stimulation of productivity of the association by elevated CO2.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1951-1955 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Experimental Botany |
Volume | 54 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2003 |
Keywords
- elevated CO2
- nitrogen
- parasitic angiosperm
- photosynthesis
- Poa pratensis
- Rhinanthus minor
- STRIGA-HERMONTHICA
- PARASITIC PLANT
- GAS-EXCHANGE
- USE-EFFICIENCY
- IMPACT
- PHOTOSYNTHESIS
- BIOCHEMISTRY
- PHYSIOLOGY
- SATIVA
- FIELD