Growth and wood/bark properties of Abies faxoniana seedlings as affected by elevated CO2.
Growth and wood and bark properties of Abies faxoniana seedlings after one year's exposure to elevated CO2 concentration (ambient + 350 (+/- 25) micromol/mol) under two planting densities (28 or 84 plants/m(2)) were investigated in closed-top chambers. Tree height, stem diameter and cross-sectional area, and total biomass were enhanced under elevated CO2 concentration, and reduced under high planting density. Most traits of stem bark were improved under elevated CO2 concentration and reduced under high planting density. Stem wood production was significantly increased in volume under elevated CO2 concentration under both densities, and the stem wood density decreased under elevated CO2 concentration and increased under high planting density. These results suggest that the response of stem wood and bark to elevated CO2 concentration is density dependent. This may be of great importance in a future CO2 enriched world in natural forests where plant density varies considerably. The results also show that the bark/wood ratio in diameter, stem cross-sectional area and dry weight are not proportionally affected by elevated CO2 concentration under the two contrasting planting densities. This indicates that the response magnitude of stem bark and stem wood to elevated CO2 concentration are different but their response directions are the same.
Qiao
Yun-Zhou
YZ
Chengdu Institute of Biology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhang
Yuan-Bin
YB
Wang
Kai-Yun
KY
Wang
Qian
Q
Tian
Qi-Zhuo
QZ
D028202:Abies / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018533:Biomass; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D014934:Wood / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide