ALBERT

Notes: The purpose of this study was to test for direct inhibition of rice canopy apparent respiration by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) across a range of short-term air temperature treatments. Rice (cv. IR-72) was grown in eight naturally sunlit, semiclosed, plant growth chambers at daytime [CO2] treatments of 350 and 700 μmol mol−1. Short-term night-time air temperature treatments ranged from 21 to 40 °C. Whole canopy respiration, expressed on a ground area basis (Rd), was measured at night by periodically venting the chambers with ambient air. This night-time chamber venting and resealing procedure produced a range of increasing chamber [CO2] which we used to test for potential inhibitory effects of rising [CO2] on Rd. A nitrous oxide leak detection system was used to correct Rd measurements for chamber leakage rate (L) and also to determine if apparent reductions in night-time Rd with rising [CO2] could be completely accounted for by L. The L was affected by both CO2 concentration gradient between the chamber and ambient air and the inherent leakiness of each individual chamber. Nevertheless, after correcting Rd for L, we detected a rapid and reversible, direct inhibition of Rd with rising chamber [CO2] for air temperatures above 21 °C. This effect was larger for the 350 compared with the 700 μmol mol−1 daytime [CO2] treatment and was also increased with increasing short-term air temperature treatments. However, little difference in Rd was found between the two daytime [CO2] treatments when night-time [CO2] was at the respective daytime [CO2]. These results suggest that naturally occurring diurnal changes in both ambient [CO2] and air temperature can affect Rd. Because naturally occurring diurnal changes in both [CO2] and air temperature can be expected in a future higher CO2 world, short-term direct effects of these environmental variables on rice Rd can also be expected.

Notes: The net primary production of tropical forests and its partitioning between long-lived carbon pools (wood) and shorter-lived pools (leaves, fine roots) are of considerable importance in the global carbon cycle. However, these terms have only been studied at a handful of field sites, and with no consistent calculation methodology. Here we calculate above-ground coarse wood carbon productivity for 104 forest plots in lowland New World humid tropical forests, using a consistent calculation methodology that incorporates corrections for spatial variations in tree-size distributions and wood density, and for census interval length. Mean wood density is found to be lower in more productive forests. We estimate that above-ground coarse wood productivity varies by more than a factor of three (between 1.5 and 5.5 Mg C ha−1 a−1) across the Neotropical plots, with a mean value of 3.1 Mg C ha−1 a−1. There appear to be no obvious relationships between wood productivity and rainfall, dry season length or sunshine, but there is some hint of increased productivity at lower temperatures. There is, however, also strong evidence for a positive relationship between wood productivity and soil fertility. Fertile soils tend to become more common towards the Andes and at slightly higher than average elevations, so the apparent temperature/productivity relationship is probably not a direct one. Coarse wood productivity accounts for only a fraction of overall tropical forest net primary productivity, but the available data indicate that it is approximately proportional to total above-ground productivity. We speculate that the large variation in wood productivity is unlikely to directly imply an equivalent variation in gross primary production. Instead a shifting balance in carbon allocation between respiration, wood carbon and fine root production seems the more likely explanation.

Notes: Three years of meteorological data collected at the WLEF-TV tower were used to drive a revised version of the Simple Biosphere (SiB 2.5) Model. Physiological properties and vegetation phenology were specified from satellite imagery. Simulated fluxes of heat, moisture, and carbon were compared to eddy covariance measurements taken onsite as a means of evaluating model performance on diurnal, synoptic, seasonal, and interannual time scales. The model was very successful in simulating variations of latent heat flux when compared to observations, slightly less so in the simulation of sensible heat flux. The model overestimated peak values of sensible heat flux on both monthly and diurnal scales. There was evidence that the differences between observed and simulated fluxes might be linked to wetlands near the WLEF tower, which were not present in the SiB simulation. The model overestimated the magnitude of the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 in both summer and winter. Mid-day maximum assimilation was well represented by the model, but late afternoon simulations showed excessive carbon uptake due to misrepresentation of within-canopy shading in the model. Interannual variability was not well simulated because only a single year of satellite imagery was used to parameterize the model.

Notes: For most studies involving the response of plants to future concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), a current concentration of 360–370 μatm is assumed, based on recent data obtained from the Mauna Loa observatory. In the present study, average seasonal diurnal values of ambient CO2 obtained at ground level from three global locations (Australia, Japan and the USA) indicated that the average CO2 (at canopy height) can vary from over 500 μatm at night to 350 μatm during the day with average 24-h values ranging from 390 to 465 μatm. At all sites sampled, ambient CO2 rose to a maximum value during the pre-dawn period (03.00–06.00 hours); at sunrise, CO2 remained elevated for several hours before declining to a steady-state concentration between 350 and 400 μatm by mid-morning (08.00–10.00 hours). Responses of plant growth to simulations of the observed variation of in situ CO2 were compared to growth at a constant CO2 concentration in controlled environment chambers. Three diurnal patterns were used (constant 370 μatm CO2, constant 370 during the day (07.00–19.00 hours), high CO2 (500 μatm) at night; or, high CO2 (500 μatm) at night and during the early morning (07.00–09.00 hours) decreasing to 370 μatm by 10.00 hours). Three plant species − soybean (Glycine max, L (Merr.), velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) − were grown in each of these environments. For soybean, high night-time CO2 resulted in a significant increase in net assimilation rate (NAR), plant growth, leaf area and biomass relative to a constant ambient value of CO2 by 29 days after sowing. Significant increases in NAR for all three species, and significant increases in leaf area, growth and total biomass for two of the three C3 species tested (velvetleaf and soybean) were also observed after 29 days post sowing for the high night/early morning diurnal pattern of CO2. Data from these experiments suggest that the ambient CO2 concentration experienced by some plants is higher than the Mauna Loa average, and that growth of some agricultural species at in situ CO2 levels can differ significantly from the constant CO2 value used as a control in many CO2 experiments. This suggests that a reassessment of control conditions used to quantify the response of plants to future, elevated CO2 may be required.

Notes: Uncertainty in biomass estimates is one of the greatest limitations to models of carbon flux in tropical forests. Previous comparisons of field-based estimates of the aboveground biomass (AGB) of trees greater than 10 cm diameter within Amazonia have been limited by the paucity of data for western Amazon forests, and the use of site-specific methods to estimate biomass from inventory data. In addition, the role of regional variation in stand-level wood specific gravity has not previously been considered. Using data from 56 mature forest plots across Amazonia, we consider the relative roles of species composition (wood specific gravity) and forest structure (basal area) in determining variation in AGB.Mean stand-level wood specific gravity, on a per stem basis, is 15.8% higher in forests in central and eastern, compared with northwestern Amazonia. This pattern is due to the higher diversity and abundance of taxa with high specific gravity values in central and eastern Amazonia, and the greater diversity and abundance of taxa with low specific gravity values in western Amazonia. For two estimates of AGB derived using different allometric equations, basal area explains 51.7% and 63.4%, and stand-level specific gravity 45.4% and 29.7%, of the total variation in AGB. The variation in specific gravity is important because it determines the regional scale, spatial pattern of AGB. When weighting by specific gravity is included, central and eastern Amazon forests have significantly higher AGB than stands in northwest or southwest Amazonia. The regional-scale pattern of species composition therefore defines a broad gradient of AGB across Amazonia.

Notes: As part of the Large Scale Biosphere–Atmosphere Experiment in Amazônia (LBA), we have developed a bottom-up approach for estimating canopy-scale fluxes of isoprene. Estimating isoprene fluxes for a given forest ecosystem requires knowledge of foliar biomass, segregated by species, and the isoprene emission characteristics of the individual tree species comprising the forest. In this study, approximately 38% of 125 tree species examined at six sites in the Brazilian Amazon emitted isoprene. Given logistical difficulties and extremely high species diversity, it was possible to screen only a small percentage of tree species, and we propose a protocol for estimating the emission capacity of unmeasured taxa using a taxonomic approach, in which we assign to an unmeasured genus a value based on the percentage of genera within its plant family which have been shown to emit isoprene.Combining this information with data obtained from 14 tree censuses at four Neotropical forest sites, we have estimated the percentage of isoprene-emitting biomass at each site. The relative contribution of each genus of tree is estimated as the basal area of all trees of that genus divided by the total basal area of the plot. Using this technique, the percentage of isoprene-emitting biomass varied from 20% to 42% (mean=31%; SD=8%).Responses of isoprene emission to varying light and temperature, measured on a sun-adapted leaf of mango (Mangifera indica L.), suggest that existing algorithms developed for temperate species are adequate for tropical species as well. Incorporating these algorithms, estimates of isoprene-emitting biomass, isoprene emission capacity, and site foliar biomass into a canopy flux model, canopy-scale fluxes of isoprene were predicted and compared with the above-canopy fluxes measured at two sites. Our bottom-up approach overestimates fluxes by about 50%, but variations in measured fluxes between the two sites are largely explained by observed variation in the amount of isoprene-emitting biomass.

Notes: Over a large part of the photoperiod, light energy absorbed by upper canopy leaves saturates photosynthesis and exceeds the energetic requirements for light-saturated linear electron flow through photosystem II (JPSII), so that photoinhibition results. From a theoretical consideration of the response of light-saturated photosynthesis to elevated atmospheric CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) it may be predicted that, where light-saturated photosynthesis is Rubisco-limited, an increase in pCO2 will stimulate JPSII. Therefore, the proportion of absorbed quanta dissipated photochemically will increase and the potential for photoinhibition of photosynthesis will decrease. This was tested by measuring modulated chlorophyll a fluorescence from Quercus myrtifolia Willd. growing in the field in open-top chambers, at either current ambient or elevated (ambient + 35 Pa) pCO2 on Merritt Island, Florida, USA. During spring and summer, light-saturated photosynthesis at current ambient pCO2 was Rubisco-limited. Consistent with theoretical prediction, JPSII was increased and photoinhibition decreased by elevated pCO2 in spring. In the summer, when growth had largely ceased, an acclimatory decrease in the maximum Ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate saturated carboxylation capacity (Vc max) removed the stimulation of JPSII seen in the spring, and photoinhibition was increased in elevated pCO2. It is concluded that, for Q. myrtifolia growing in the field, the effects of elevated pCO2 on JPSII and photoinhibition will reflect seasonal differences in photosynthetic acclimation to elevated pCO2 in a predictable manner.

Notes: The carbon storage regulatory system of Escherichia coli controls the expression of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and cell motility. CsrA binding to glgCAP transcripts inhibits glycogen metabolism by promoting glgCAP mRNA decay. CsrB RNA functions as an antagonist of CsrA by sequestering this protein and preventing its action. In this paper, we elucidate further the mechanism of CsrA-mediated glgC regulation. Results from gel shift assays demonstrate that several molecules of CsrA can bind to each glgC transcript. RNA footprinting studies indicate that CsrA binds to the glgCAP leader transcript at two positions. One of these sites overlaps the glgC Shine–Dalgarno sequence, whereas the other CsrA target is located further upstream in an RNA hairpin. Results from toeprint and cell-free translation experiments indicate that bound CsrA prevents ribosome binding to the glgC Shine–Dalgarno sequence and that this reduces GlgC synthesis. The effect of two deletions in the upstream binding site was examined. Both of these deletions reduced, but did not eliminate, CsrA binding in vitro and CsrA-dependent regulation in vivo. Our findings establish that bound CsrA inhibits initiation of glgC translation, thereby reducing glycogen biosynthesis. This inhibition of translation probably contributes to destabilization of the glgC transcript that was observed previously.

Notes: The object of this study was to determine the effect of closing date and date of harvest for conservation (accumulation period), on dry-matter (DM) yield and forage quality of annual pasture in Western Australia. The field study comprised 48 plots, 2 m × 2 m, sown with either annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.) or Italian ryegrass (L. multiflorum Lam.), and mixed with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). Defoliation of swards until the end of winter was at the three leaves tiller–1 stage. In spring, once stem nodal development had commenced, swards were defoliated every 3–4 weeks. Swards were defoliated either twice with three leaves tiller–1 (accumulation period 1 commenced on 15 August); twice with three leaves tiller–1 and then once after 4 weeks (accumulation period 2 commenced on 11 September); twice with three leaves tiller–1 and then twice after 4-week intervals (accumulation period 3 commenced on 9 October) or; twice with 3 leaves tiller–1 and then twice after 4-week intervals and then once after 3 weeks (accumulation period 4 commenced on 30 October). From the commencement of the accumulation period, tiller density, DM yield and forage quality were determined weekly for up to 10 weeks.There was a positive quadratic association between DM yield and days after the commencement of the accumulation period. Yields were maximized from accumulation period 1 with 5·3, 6·6 and 9·5 t DM ha–1, and growth rates were 140, 128 and 145 kg DM ha–1 d–1, for Wimmera annual ryegrass and Richmond and Concord cultivars of Italian ryegrass respectively. In contrast, in vitro dry-matter digestibility (IVDMD) and crude protein (CP) content were negatively associated with days after the commencement of the accumulation period, and initial values were greater than 0·80 and 180 g kg DM–1 for IVDMD and CP content respectively. The rate of decline in IVDMD d–1 for Wimmera annual ryegrass was 0·005, 0·019 and 0·012 d–1 for accumulation periods 1, 2 and 3, respectively, while for Italian ryegrass cultivars Richmond was 0·015, 0·011, 0·02 and 0·012 d–1 and Concord was 0·014, 0·009, 0·013 and 0·01 d–1, for the 4 accumulation periods respectively.It is recommended that annual and Italian ryegrass pastures be harvested between 10% and 20% inflorescence emergence when IVDMD will exceed 0·70 regardless of cultivar and/or defoliation practice prior to the commencement of the accumulation period.

Notes: The effect of defoliation on the vegetative, early reproductive and inflorescence stages of tiller development, changes in the dry-matter yield of leaf, stem and inflorescence and the associated changes in forage quality was determined on plants of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.) and Italian ryegrass (L. multiflorum Lam.). The field study comprised seventy-two plots of 1 m × 2 m, sown with one annual ryegrass and seven Italian ryegrass cultivars with a range of heading dates from early to late; defoliation commenced 6 weeks after germination. During the vegetative stage of growth, plots were defoliated when the tillers had three fully expanded leaves (three-leaf stage). During the early reproductive stage of growth, to simulate a cut for silage, plots were defoliated 6–7 weeks after 0·10 of the tillers displayed nodal development. The subsequent regrowth was defoliated every 3 weeks.Assessments of changes in tiller density, yield and quality were made in the growth cycle that followed three contrasting cutting treatments during the winter–spring period (from 10 July). In treatment 1, this growth cycle (following closing-up before a subsequent conservation cut) commenced on 7 August following two defoliations each taken when the tillers were at the three-leaf stage. In treatment 2, the growth cycle commenced on 16 October following: for early-maturing cultivars, two cuts at the three-leaf stage, a cut for silage and an additional regrowth cut; for medium-maturing cultivars three cuts at the three-leaf stage and a cut for silage; and late-maturing cultivars, five cuts at the three-leaf stage. In treatment 3, defoliation up to 16 October was as for treatment 2, but the growth cycle studied started on 27 November following two additional regrowth cuts for early- and medium-maturing cultivars and cut for silage for the late-maturing cultivars.Tiller development for all cultivars was classified into three stages; vegetative, early reproductive and inflorescence. In treatment 1, in vitro dry-matter digestibility (IVDMD) and crude protein (CP) content were negatively associated with maturation of tillers. IVDMD ranged from 0·85 to 0·60 and CP ranged from 200 to less than 100 g kg–1 dry matter (DM) during the vegetative and inflorescence stages respectively. This large reduction in forage quality was due to an increase in the proportion of stem, inflorescence and dead material, combined with a reduction in the IVDMD and CP content of the stem. A high level of forage quality was retained for longer with later-maturing cultivars, and/or when vegetative tillers were initiated from the defoliation of early reproductive tillers (treatments 2 and 3). However, 15 weeks after the closing-up date in treatment 1, defoliation significantly reduced the density of inflorescences with means (±pooled s.e_m.) of 1560, 1178 and 299 ± 108 tillers m–2, and DM yield of inflorescence with means of 3·0, 0·6 and 0·1 ± 0·15 t ha–1 for treatments 1, 2 and 3 respectively.This study supports the recommendation that annual and Italian ryegrass cultivars should be classified according to maturity date based on the onset of inflorescence emergence, and that the judicious defoliation of early reproductive tillers can be used to promote the initiation of new vegetative tillers which in turn will retain forage quality for longer.