Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
09:05
Tomato Root Transformation Followed by Inoculation with Ralstonia Solanacearum for Straightforward Genetic Analysis of Bacterial Wilt Disease
Published on: March 11, 2020
CO(2)-Enhanced Yield and Foliar Deformation among Tomato Genotypes in Elevated CO(2) Environments
K E Tripp1, M M Peet, D M Pharr
1Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7609.
Plant Physiology
|July 1, 1991
Summary
Elevated carbon dioxide (CO(2)) increased tomato yield by shifting resources from roots to fruit, not by boosting carbon exchange. This CO(2) enrichment also caused foliar deformation linked to reduced potassium levels.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO(2)) levels can impact plant growth and development.
- Previous research suggests CO(2) enrichment may influence crop yield and plant morphology.
- Understanding genotype-specific responses to CO(2) is crucial for agricultural adaptation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological basis of yield increases in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) under elevated CO(2).
- To examine the relationship between CO(2) enrichment, carbon exchange rate, and fruit yield.
- To identify the causes of CO(2)-induced foliar deformation and its correlation with yield.
Main Methods:
- Eight tomato genotypes were grown under ambient (350 µL/L) and elevated (1000 µL/L) CO(2) conditions.
- Carbon exchange rates, fruit yield, and foliar morphology were assessed.
- Foliar samples were analyzed for starch and mineral nutrient concentrations (K, P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn).
- A separate experiment involved foliar application of potassium phosphate (KH(2)PO(4)) to assess its effect on deformation.
Main Results:
- Yield increases under elevated CO(2) were not correlated with carbon exchange rate but with a shift in resource allocation from roots to fruit.
- CO(2) enrichment induced foliar deformation, which varied among genotypes and intensified over the season.
- Foliar potassium (K) and manganese (Mn) concentrations were correlated with deformation severity, with K decreasing as deformation increased.
- Foliar K deficiency was implicated in CO(2)-enhanced foliar deformation, potentially due to reduced root mass and nutrient uptake.
Conclusions:
- Tomato yield enhancement under elevated CO(2) is primarily driven by altered resource partitioning, not increased photosynthesis.
- CO(2)-induced foliar deformation is linked to reduced potassium availability, possibly resulting from decreased root growth and nutrient uptake.
- Genotypic variation in response to elevated CO(2) highlights the need for selecting appropriate cultivars for changing environmental conditions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27C4 Pathway and CAM
Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
02:36Meristems and Plant Growth
Plants grow throughout their lives; this is called indeterminate growth, and it distinguishes plants from most animals. Although certain parts of plants stop growing (e.g., leaves and flowers), others grow continuously—like roots and stems.
02:04Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata
During photosynthesis, plants acquire the necessary carbon dioxide and release the produced oxygen back into the atmosphere. Openings in the epidermis of plant leaves is the site of this exchange of gasses. A single opening is called a stoma—derived from the Greek word for “mouth.” Stomata open and close in response to a variety of environmental cues.
01:59Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Crop cultivation has a long history in human civilization, with records showing the cultivation of cereal plants beginning at around 8000 BC. This early plant breeding was developed primarily to provide a steady supply of food.
02:50Transgenic Plants
Recombinant DNA technology called transgenesis is often used to add a foreign gene or remove a detrimental gene from an organism. Such genetically modified organisms are called transgenic organisms.
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
01:22Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme nitrate reductase...