The atmospheric [CO<SUB>2</SUB>] has been rising steadily for the last 150 years, largely as a result of land-use change and anthropogenic emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. Models predict that the current concentration of atmospheric [CO<SUB>2</SUB>] will double within the next century and that temperatures will increase. Predicted increases in [CO<SUB>2</SUB>] and temperature are likely to affect plant growth, yield, biomass allocation, and bud phenology. The likely increase in the evapotranspiration potential caused by an increase in air and soil temperature could have a negative effect in particular in areas with limited water resources. The present experiments were designed to study the effects of rising [CO<SUB>2</SUB>] on the long-term growth and carbon allocation of four clones of Sitka spruce (<I>Picea sitchensis </I>(Bong.) Carr.) taken from two provenances, and the long-term interactive effects of elevated [CO<SUB>2</SUB>] and water stress on growth, plant water use and plant water relations of cherry seedlings (<I>Prunus avium </I>L.). Two-year-old saplings of four clones of Sitka spruce were grown in ten open top chambers (OTCs) at two CO<SUB>2</SUB> concentrations (~350 and ~700 μmol mol<SUP>-1</SUP>) for two growing seasons at the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, near Edinburgh (UK). The saplings in elevated [CO<SUB>2</SUB>] were significantly larger in all respects than those grown in ambient [CO<SUB>2</SUB>]. Each clone showed a positive growth response to elevated [CO<SUB>2</SUB>] over the whole duration of the experiment. Only a few studies have been made to date on clonal plant response to elevated CO<SUB>2</SUB>, and growth different genotypes may prove to be important for forest species, particularly for forest crops. Cherry plants were grown at two CO<SUB>2</SUB> concentrations (~350 and ~700 μmol mol<SUP>-1</SUP>) for two years from seed in six OTCs within an unheated glasshouse at the University of Edinburgh. The experiment was designed to mimic the effects of natural water stress on the growth of young cherry seedlings. Elevated [CO<SUB>2</SUB>] significantly increased total dry mass production in both water regimes.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:642693 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Centritto, Mauro |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/14288 |
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