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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2004; 6(3): 242-253
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-820883
Review Article

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Direct and Indirect Climate Change Effects on Photosynthesis and Transpiration

M. U. F. Kirschbaum1 , 2
  • 1CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products, P.O. Box 4008, Kingston ACT 2604, Australia
  • 2CRC for Greenhouse Accounting, P.O. Box 475, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 May 2004 (online)

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Abstract

Climate change affects plants in many different ways. Increasing CO2 concentration can increase photosynthetic rates. This is especially pronounced for C3 plants, at high temperatures and under water-limited conditions. Increasing temperature also affects photosynthesis, but plants have a considerable ability to adapt to their growth conditions and can function even at extremely high temperatures, provided adequate water is available. Temperature optima differ between species and growth conditions, and are higher in elevated atmospheric CO2. With increasing temperature, vapour pressure deficits of the air may increase, with a concomitant increase in the transpiration rate from plant canopies. However, if stomata close in response to increasing CO2 concentration, or if there is a reduction in the diurnal temperature range, then transpiration rates may even decrease. Soil organic matter decomposition rates are likely to be stimulated by higher temperatures, so that nutrients can be more readily mineralised and made available to plants. This is likely to increase photosynthetic carbon gain in nutrient-limited systems. All the factors listed above interact strongly so that, for different combinations of increases in temperature and CO2 concentration, and for systems in different climatic regions and primarily affected by water or nutrient limitations, photosynthesis must be expected to respond differently to the same climatic changes.

Key words

CO2 - C3 - photosynthesis - C4 photosynthesis - diurnal temperature - Rubisco - RuBP - stomata - temperature

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M. U. F. Kirschbaum

CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products

P.O. Box 4008

Kingston ACT 2604

Australia

Email: miko.kirschbaum@csiro.au

Guest Editor: F. Loreto