title: Carbon dioxide interactions with irradiance and temperature in potatoes.
abstract: Separate controlled environment studies were conducted to determine the interaction of CO2 with irradiance and interaction of CO2 with temperature on growth of three potato cultivars. In the first study, an elevated CO2 concentration of 1000 micromoles mol-1 and an ambient CO2 of 350 micromoles mol-1 were maintained at the photosynthetic photon fluxes (PPF) of 17 and 34 mol m-2 d-1 with 12 h photoperiod, and at the PPF of 34 and 68 mol m-2 d-1 with 24 h photoperiod (400 and 800 micromoles m-2 s-1 PPF at each photoperiod). Tuber and total dry weights of 90-day old potatoes were significantly increased with CO2 enrichment, but the CO2 stimulation was less with higher PPF and longer photoperiod. Shoot dry weight was affected more by photoperiod than by PPF and CO2 concentrations. The elevated CO2 concentration increased leaf CO2 assimilation rates and decreased stomatal conductance with 12 h photoperiod, but had only a marginal effect with 24 h photoperiod. In the second study, four CO2 concentrations of 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 micromoles mol-1 were combined with two air temperature regimes of 16 and 20 degrees C under a 12 h photoperiod. At harvest, 35 days after transplanting, tuber and total dry weights of potatoes reached a maximum with 1000 micromoles mol-1 CO2 at 16 degrees C, but continued to increase up to 2000 micromoles mol-1 CO2 at 20 degrees C. Plant growth was greater at 20 degrees C than at 16 degrees C under all CO2 concentrations. At 16 degrees C specific leaf weight increased substantially with increasing CO2 concentrations as compared to 500 micromoles mol-1 CO2, but increased only slightly at 20 degrees C. This suggests a carbohydrate build-up in the leaves at 16 degrees C temperature that reduces plant response to increased CO2 concentrations. The data in the two studies indicate that a PPF of 34 mol m-2 d-1, 20 degrees C temperature, and 1000-2000 micromoles mol-1 CO2 produces optimal tuber yield in potatoes.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin, Department of Horticulture, Madison 53706, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Tibbitts
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D018504:Ecological Systems, Closed; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D008021:Life Support Systems; D008027:Light; D009929:Organ Size; D017440:Photoperiod; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D018526:Plant Transpiration; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide