Jm. Hibberd et al., EFFECT OF 700-MU-MOL MOL(-1) CO2 AND INFECTION WITH POWDERY MILDEW ONTHE GROWTH AND CARBON PARTITIONING OF BARLEY, New phytologist, 134(2), 1996, pp. 309-315
The dry weight of barley plants in 700 mu mol mol(-1) CO2 was increase
d by 19 d after planting relative to plants grown in 350 mu mol mol(-1
) CO2. Infection of the second leaf by powdery mildew led to reduced g
rowth rates in both 350 and 700 mu mol mol(-1) CO2, but the reduction
in growth was transitory in 350 mu mol mol(-1) CO2. Neither the alIome
tric coefficient k between shoot and root, nor the leaf weight ratio,
was altered by growth in 700 mu mol mol(-1) CO2 or by infection with p
owdery mildew. The number of tillers produced increased per plant but
not per unit d. wt in 700 mu mol mol(-1) CO2. The growth response of b
arley to increased concentrations of CO2 and/or to infection with powd
ery mildew was not associated with alterations in net carbon partition
ing, so a change in the ratio of photosynthetic to non-photosynthetic
tissue, contributed to neither the growth response of barley to 700 mu
mol mol(-1) CO2 nor to infection with powdery mildew. The increase in
the growth rate of barley in 700 mu mol mol(-1) CO2 and the reduction
in the growth rate after infection occurred at the same time as incre
ased and reduced rates of net photosynthesis respectively.