Warming due to climate change alters physiological performance, biomass production and microenvironment of Avena sativa Article uri icon

abstract

  • Recent studies indicate that warming impairs the physiological performance of several plants; however, the warming effect depends on the thermal tolerance of each plant species. The effects of warming on oat ecophysiology and its biomass production have been little studied, although world oat demand is rising. Our aim was to evaluate how induced warming affects the ecophysiology and biomass production of oats by using open top chambers as a warming treatment and comparing it to a control. Ecophysiological parameters were measured, including relative humidity, soil temperature, growing degree days (GDD), soil respiration, seedling emergence, maximum quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), effective quantum yield of PSII (ϕPSII), electron transport rate (ETR), net assimilation rate (A), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs) and biomass production. Induced warming decreased (p < 0.05) daily levels of relative air humidity by 4%25, and increased (p < 0.05) minimum and midrange daily soil temperatures by 1.9 and 1.2 °C and GDD by 100. Both Fv/Fm and ϕPSII were unaffected but ETR tended to slightly increase under the warming treatment, indicating acclimatization of oat plants. Warming reduced (p < 0.05) A, E and gs by more than 60%25 and stubble biomass by 15%25, compared to the control, however panicle biomass was unaffected. Induced warming creates some sub-optimal microenvironmental conditions and reduces oat gas exchange performance and aerial biomass production, however oats appear to be capable of some photosynthetic acclimatization. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Botanical Society of Sao Paulo.

publication date

  • 2022-01-01