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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2017, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (8): 113-122.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2017093

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Effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration on the growth and antioxidant system in tall fescue under heat stress

YU Jing-Jin, FAN Ning-Li, LI Ran, YANG Zhi-Min*   

  1. College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
  • Received:2017-03-07 Online:2017-08-20 Published:2017-08-20

Abstract: The gradual increases in the atmospheric CO2 concentration and temperature are the two primary characteristics of global climate change. However, the rising atmospheric CO2 concentration could alleviate the negative effects of heat stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the mitigating effects of elevated CO2 on the growth and antioxidant system a perennial grass under heat stress. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea cv. ‘Barlexas’) was exposed to either ambient CO2 concentration (400 μmol/mol) or elevated CO2 concentration (800 μmol/mol) under optimal growth temperature (25/15 ℃ day/night) or elevated temperature (35/25 ℃ day/night) conditions. After 28 days of the experimental treatment, heat stress caused a significant reduction in relative growth rate (RGR), leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn), number of green leaves, antioxidant enzyme activities [(superoxide dismutase, (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)], as well as an increase in electrolyte leakage (EL), and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (H2O2 and O2). Elevated CO2 mitigated these negative effects of heat stress in tall fescue. Compared with plants grown under heat stress and ambient CO2, those grown under heat stress and elevated CO2 had lower leaf EL and MDA contents (72% and 39% lower, respectively); the Pn, Fv/Fm, and number of green leaves were increased by 1.74-fold, 17%, and 1.65-fold, respectively; and the ROS contents were significantly lower (H2O2 and O2 contents decreased by 46% and 31%, respectively). These results demonstrated that elevated CO2 can improve the heat tolerance of tall fescue through increased photosynthetic capacity, cellular membrane stability, and decreased ROS accumulation.