Molecular targets of elevated [CO2] in leaves and stems of Populus deltoides: implications for future tree growth and carbon sequestration
Nathalie Druart A B , Marisa Rodríguez-Buey A , Greg Barron-Gafford C , Andreas Sjödin A , Rishikesh Bhalerao B and Vaughan Hurry A DA Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
B Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-901 83 Umeå, Sweden.
C Biosphere 2 Laboratory, Columbia University, Oracle AZ 85623, USA. Current address: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA.
D Corresponding author. Email: Vaughan.Hurry@plantphys.umu.se
Functional Plant Biology 33(2) 121-131 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP05139
Submitted: 7 June 2005 Accepted: 20 September 2005 Published: 3 February 2006
Abstract
We report the first comprehensive analysis of the effects of elevated [CO2] on gene expression in source leaf and stem sink tissues in woody plants. We have taken advantage of coppiced Populus deltoides (Bartr.) stands grown for 3 years under three different and constant elevated [CO2] in the agriforest mesocosms of Biosphere 2. Leaf area per tree was doubled by elevated [CO2] but although growth at 800 v. 400 µmol mol–1 CO2 resulted in a significant increase in stem biomass, growth was not stimulated at 1200 µmol mol–1 CO2. Growth under elevated [CO2] also resulted in significant increases in stem wood density. Analysis of expression data for the 13 490 clones present on POP1 microarrays revealed 95 and 277 [CO2]-responsive clones in leaves and stems respectively, with the response being stronger at 1200 µmol mol–1. When these [CO2]-responsive genes were assigned to functional categories, metabolism-related genes were the most responsive to elevated [CO2]. However within this category, expression of genes relating to bioenergetic processes was unchanged in leaves whereas the expression of genes for storage proteins and of those involved in control of wall expansion was enhanced. In contrast to leaves, the genes up-regulated in stems under elevated [CO2] were primarily enzymes responsible for lignin formation and polymerisation or ethylene response factors, also known to induce lignin biosynthesis. Concomitant with this enhancement of lignin biosynthesis in stems, there was a pronounced repression of genes related to cell wall formation and cell growth. These changes in gene expression have clear consequences for long-term carbon sequestration, reducing the carbon-fertilisation effect, and the potential for increased lignification may negatively impact on future wood quality for timber and paper production.
Keywords: cottonwood, elevated CO2, global change, microarray, Populus.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Dr Ramesh Murthy for overall direction of the B2L poplar project initiated by Dr Kevin Griffin, to Dr Barry Osmond for support during the project and for critical reading of the manuscript, and for the assistance of the B2L operations team in the maintenance of the experiments. We acknowledge the financial support from the Columbia University Earth Institute, courtesy of Dr Michael Crow, Executive Vice-Provost, from Mr Edward P Bass, owner of the facility, from the Swedish Council for Forestry and Agricultural Research to VH and from STEM to RB.
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