Effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment on biomass, yield and low molecular weight metabolites in wheat grain

Publication Type

Journal contribution (peer reviewed)

Authors

Högy, P., Keck, M., Niehaus, K., Franzaring, J., Fangmeier, A.

Year of publication

2010

Published in

Journal of Cereal Science

Band/Volume

52/

ISBN / ISSN / eISSN

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcs.2010.05.009

Page (from - to)

215-220

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown in a free-air carbon dioxide (CO₂) enrichment (FACE) field experiment. Grain and biomass yield and its components were determined at maturity and the grain metabolome was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Elevated CO₂ (537 versus 409 μl l^-1) increased biomass production except for leaves. In total, levels of 16 grain metabolites were decreased and four were increased. CO₂ enrichment resulted in significant decreases of amino acids such as o-acetyl-L-homoserine, leucine, arginine, L-homoserine and the group of ornithine, arginine and citrulline and negative trends for norleucine, L-aspartate, proline, L-cysteine and tyrosine. The amines D/L-diaminopimelate and alpha-ketoaminobutyrate and the polyamine putrescine were significantly decreased. In contrast, the polyamine spermidine tended to increase under elevated CO₂. Among sugars and sugar derivatives, ribose-5-P was significantly increased, while gluconate-6-P was decreased. There were also negative CO₂-induced effects on sugar alcohols: significant for glycerol-2-P (P = 0.008) and almost significant for myo-inositol-P (P = 0.066). In contrast, organic acids such as pyruvate and glucuronic acid were significantly increased. Overall, the N-rich metabolites especially were reduced. CO₂ enrichment can markedly affect the physiology and metabolome of mature grains which may in turn lead to changes in nutritional status.