Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Chronic Warming Together Decrease Nitrogen Uptake Rate, Net Translocation, and Assimilation in Tomato

oleh: Dileepa M. Jayawardena, Scott A. Heckathorn, Krishani K. Rajanayake, Jennifer K. Boldt, Dragan Isailovic

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2021-04-01

Deskripsi

The response of plant N relations to the combination of elevated CO<sub>2</sub> (eCO<sub>2</sub>) and warming are poorly understood. To study this, tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>) plants were grown at 400 or 700 ppm CO<sub>2</sub> and 33/28 or 38/33 °C (day/night), and their soil was labeled with <sup>15</sup>NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> or <sup>15</sup>NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>. Plant dry mass, root N-uptake rate, root-to-shoot net N translocation, whole-plant N assimilation, and root resource availability (%C, %N, total nonstructural carbohydrates) were measured. Relative to eCO<sub>2</sub> or warming alone, eCO<sub>2</sub> + warming decreased growth, NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-uptake rates, root-to-shoot net N translocation, and whole-plant N assimilation. Decreased N assimilation with eCO<sub>2</sub> + warming was driven mostly by inhibition of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> assimilation, and was not associated with root resource limitations or damage to N-assimilatory proteins. Previously, we showed in tomato that eCO<sub>2</sub> + warming decreases the concentration of N-uptake and -assimilatory proteins in roots, and dramatically increases leaf angle, which decreases whole-plant light capture and, hence, photosynthesis and growth. Thus, decreases in N uptake and assimilation with eCO<sub>2</sub> + warming in tomato are likely due to reduced plant N demand.