Carbon balance, partitioning and photosynthetic acclimation in fruit-bearing grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo) grown under simulated climate change (elevated CO2, elevated temperature and moderate drought) scenarios in temperature gradient greenhouses

J Plant Physiol. 2015 Feb 1:174:97-109. doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2014.10.009. Epub 2014 Nov 5.

Abstract

Although plant performance under elevated CO2 has been extensively studied in the past little is known about photosynthetic performance changing simultaneously CO2, water availability and temperature conditions. Moreover, despite of its relevancy in crop responsiveness to elevated CO2 conditions, plant level C balance is a topic that, comparatively, has received little attention. In order to test responsiveness of grapevine photosynthetic apparatus to predicted climate change conditions, grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo) fruit-bearing cuttings were exposed to different CO2 (elevated, 700ppm vs. ambient, ca. 400ppm), temperature (ambient vs. elevated, ambient +4°C) and irrigation levels (partial vs. full irrigation). Carbon balance was followed monitoring net photosynthesis (AN, C gain), respiration (RD) and photorespiration (RL) (C losses). Modification of environment (13)C isotopic composition (δ(13)C) under elevated CO2 (from -10.30 to -24.93‰) enabled the further characterization of C partitioning into roots, cuttings, shoots, petioles, leaves, rachides and berries. Irrespective of irrigation level and temperature, exposure to elevated CO2 induced photosynthetic acclimation of plants. C/N imbalance reflected the inability of plants grown at 700ppm CO2 to develop strong C sinks. Partitioning of labeled C to storage organs (main stem and roots) did not avoid accumulation of labeled photoassimilates in leaves, affecting negatively Rubisco carboxylation activity. The study also revealed that, after 20 days of treatment, no oxidative damage to chlorophylls or carotenoids was observed, suggesting a protective role of CO2 either at current or elevated temperatures against the adverse effect of water stress.

Keywords: Carbon balance; Climate change; Grapevine; Photosynthesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acclimatization / drug effects*
  • Carbon / metabolism*
  • Carbon Dioxide / pharmacology*
  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Cell Respiration / drug effects
  • Chlorophyll / metabolism
  • Climate Change*
  • Droughts*
  • Electron Transport / drug effects
  • Fluorescence
  • Fruit / drug effects
  • Fruit / growth & development
  • Fruit / physiology
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Photosynthesis / drug effects*
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex / metabolism
  • Pigments, Biological / metabolism
  • Plant Stomata / drug effects
  • Plant Stomata / physiology
  • Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / metabolism
  • Temperature
  • Vitis / drug effects
  • Vitis / growth & development*
  • Vitis / physiology

Substances

  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex
  • Pigments, Biological
  • Chlorophyll
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Carbon
  • Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase
  • Nitrogen