The Impact of CO₂ Enrichment on Water Relations in Maranthes corymbosa and Eucalyptus tetrodonta

Abstract

Seeds of Maranthes corymbosa Blume and Eucalyptus tetrodonta F.Muell were sown under ambient or CO₂ enriched conditions (two replicate tents per treatment) in tropical Australia and allowed to grow, rooted in the ground, for 20 months. For both species, periodic measurements of leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and leaf temperature were made on four replicate leaves on each of four replicate trees within each tent. Measurements were made in November (M. corymbosa) and June (E. tetrodonta). At the same time, atmospheric wet and dry bulb temperatures were recorded and hence leaf-to-air vapour presure difference (LAVPD) calculated. Measurements of pre-dawn leaf water potential were also made on E. tetrodonta. Leaves were also taken to the laboratory, rehydrated to full turgor and pressure-volume analyses undertaken. For M. corymbosa, leaf water potential was lower throughout the day for control leaves compared to leaves growing in CO₂ enriched air. Similarly, pre dawn leaf water potential was lower for control E. tetrodonta trees than for trees grown with CO₂ enrichment. However, mid-morning and mid-afternoon values of leaf water potential for E. tetrodonta were slightly lower for plants growing in CO₂ enriched air compared to control plants. In both species, stomatal conductance was consistently lower for trees grown in CO₂ enriched air than for controls. Whole plant hydraulic conductivity of both species was significantly lower for trees grown in CO₂ enriched air than for control trees. For both species, maximum turgor and bulk volumetric elastic modulus increased and osmotic potential at zero turgor decreased for trees grown in CO₂ enriched air.