ISHS Acta Horticulturae 268: IV International Symposium on CO2 in Protected Cultivation
GROWTH AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF CO2-ENRICHED PRIMROSE - REFEREED PAPER - |
| Authors: | L. Combe, J.M. Bertolini, P. Quétin, P. Locher |
| Abstract:
Primula obconica potted plants were cultivated in a glasshouse at normal (350±50 μl/l) or enriched (800±100 μl/l) CO2 concentration in the air. Final growth and yield were measured : fresh and dry matter were significantly increased by CO2-enrichment (+94% and +77% respectively). Similarly leaf number increased but flower number did not. Plant quality was better. Net CO2-gas exchange rates were measured on a small population (10 pots =30 plants =1 m2) in a growth chamber where irradiance and CO2 could be controlled. Net photosynthesis curves were the same for both control and enriched plants: there was no CO2 adaptive effect. The effect of temperature (14°C and 18°C) on photosynthesis was not significant. At high irradiance (450 μE PAR m-2s-1) and low CO2 concentration (350 μl/l) some plants sets displayed lowered photosynthesis rate, probably due to photoinhibition. Ageing (5 to 13 weeks after transplantation) caused a reduction of photosynthesis rate except at 350 μl/l. Hence CO2-enrichment should be applied preferably at the beginning of cultivation. | |
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