Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology >
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CARBON AND NITROGEN AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION IN PLANTS UNDER GLOBAL CHANGE—FROM MOLECULE TO ECOSYSTEM
Received date: 2006-04-17
Accepted date: 2006-06-27
Online published: 2007-07-30
Globally elevated temperatures and changed precipitation distributions may lead to deficits of fresh water that reduce crop yields and degrade natural ecosystems. Plant carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism and its abiotic environmental regulation are responsible for net primary productivity and plant nutrient status. We review the relationship between C and N and regulation by environmental factors such as temperature, water moisture and CO2 enrichment at multiple levels of plant organization, including molecule, tissue, organ, whole plant and ecosystem. For cereal crops including wheat and rice, grain N mainly includes: 1) N reallocated in vegetative organs before anthesis, and 2) N absorbed from soil after anthesis. Their proportions depend on the activity and size of grains as an N sink and species and cultivars, affecting the grain yield and quality. Leaf N level can explain 45%-75% of leaf photosynthesis, and 71%-88% of leaf N can be allocated into protein, with Rubisco, the key enzyme for photosynthesis, accounting for 30%-50% of total leaf soluble protein, making it the protein using most N. Furthermore, the N proportions among the photosynthetic organs and the ratio between soluble sugar and starch may be associated with the Rubisco gene. Therefore, plant N level may be assessed by photosynthetic capacity.
Many studies have demonstrated that drought can promote C allocation to below-ground parts of plants, increasing root:shoot biomass ratio. There is, however, evidence that this enhancement of roots due to moderate drought can be negated by severe drought. On the other hand, drought also increases N concentration in sink organs, such as wheat grains, and decreases mature leaf N concentration, decreasing leaf net photosynthetic rate. However, high temperature does not significantly increase C allocation to roots, but may decrease leaf N concentration and affect Rubisco level. Thus, a decline of photosynthetic capacity induced by above optimal temperature, particularly at night, may be ascribed to an adverse effect on photosystem Ⅱ (PSⅡ). Generally, elevated CO2 dilutes plant tissue N, leading to a lower C:N ratio that may come from the effect on Rubisco expression. Whole ecosystem N allocation and cycle can be affected by elevated CO2, thereby changing ecosystem structure and function. The interaction between severe drought and high temperature can lead to a decrease in leaf N, reducing plant C-fixing ability, depending on the time and severity of stresses. Under high CO2 concentration and drought, the C allocation into below-ground parts can be enhanced and the C:N ratio may increase. The interaction between elevated CO2 and high temperature can alter plant tissue N allocation, with elevated CO2 increasing CO2 site activity of Rubisco and decreasing N investment in photosynthetic apparatus, but high temperature increasing O2 site activity of Rubisco and increasing N investment. Nevertheless, under global change conditions, the combined effects from various stress factors are complex, and may include both positive and negative relationships. Research is urgently needed to 1) elucidate plant C and N allocation models from molecular to ecosystem levels; 2) address synergistic effects of multiple environmental stresses; 3) predict C and N allocation based on different global change scenarios; 4) quantify the threshold for change in C and N allocation in response to global change; and 5) strengthen knowledge of the key role of C and N allocation in agricultural and forest productivity and conservation of natural ecosystems.
XU Zhen-Zhu, ZHOU Guang-Sheng . RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CARBON AND NITROGEN AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION IN PLANTS UNDER GLOBAL CHANGE—FROM MOLECULE TO ECOSYSTEM[J]. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2007 , 31(4) : 738 -747 . DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2007.0094
| [1] | Aber JD, Federer CA (1992). A generalized, lumped-parameter model of photosynthesis, evapotranspiration and net primary production in temperate and boreal forest ecosystems. Oecologia, 92, 463-474. |
| [2] | Ashmore MR (2005). Assessing the future global impacts of ozone on vegetation. Plant, Cell and Environment, 28, 949-964. |
| [3] | Atkinson LJ, Hellicar MA, Fitter AH, Atkin OK (2007). Impact of temperature on the relationship between respiration and nitrogen concentration in roots: an analysis of scaling relationships, Q10 values and thermal acclimation ratios. New Phytologist, 173, 110-120. |
| [4] | Behera SK, Nayak L, Biswal B (2003). Senescing leaves possess potential for stress adaptation: the developing leaves acclimated to high light exhibit increased to tolerance to osmotic stress during senescence. Journal of Plant Physiology, 160, 125-131. |
| [5] | Boyer JS (1982). Plant productivity and environment. Science, 218, 443-448. |
| [6] | Bray EA, Bailey-Serres J, Weretilnyk E 2000. Response to abiotic stress. In: Buchanan B, Gruissem W, Jones R eds. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants. American Society of Plant Physiologists, Rockville, MD, USA, 1158-1203. |
| [7] | Bryant JP, Chapin FS, Klein DR (1983). Carbon/nitrogen balance of boreal plants in relation to vertebrate herbivory. Oikos, 40, 357-368. |
| [8] | Cameron DD, Leake JR, Read DJ (2006). Mutualistic mycorrhiza in orchids: evidence from plant-fungus carbon and nitrogen transfers in the green-leaved terrestrial orchid Goodyera repens. New Phytologist, 171, 405-416. |
| [9] | Cernusak LA, Aranda J, Marshall JD, Winter K (2007). Large variation in whole-plant water-use efficiency among tropical tree species. New Phytologist, 173, 294-305. |
| [10] | Champigny ML (1995). Integration of photosynthetic carbon and nitrogen metabolism in higher plants. Photosynthesis Research, 46, 117-127. |
| [11] | Chernyad'ev II, Monakhova OF (1998). The activity and content of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in wheat plants as affected by water stress and kartolonn-4. Photosynthetica, 35, 603-610. |
| [12] | Cox MC, Qualset CO, Tains DW (1985). Genetic variation for nitrogen assimilation and translocation in wheat. Ⅱ. Nitrogen assimilation in relation to grain yield and protein. Crop Science, 25, 435-440. |
| [13] | Delgado E, Mitchell RAC, Parry MAJ, Driscoll SP, Mitchell VJ, Lawlor DW (1994). Interacting effects of CO2 concentration, temperature and nitrogen supply on photosynthesis and composition of winter wheat leaves. Plant, Cell and Environment, 17, 1205-1213. |
| [14] | Du JZ (杜金哲), Li WX (李文雄), Hu SL (胡尚连), Liu JH (刘锦红) (2001). Nitrogen assimilation, transfer and utilization in relation to grain protein content and yield of spring wheat genotypes differing in quality. Acta Agronomica Sinica (作物学报), 27, 253-260. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [15] | Dwyer S, Ghannoum O, Nicotra A, von Caemmerer S (2007). High temperature acclimation of C4 photosynthesis is linked to changes in photosynthetic biochemistry. Plant, Cell and Environment, 30, 53-66. |
| [16] | Erice G, Irigoyen JJ, Pérez P, Martínez-Carrasco R, Sánchez-Díaz M (2006). Effect of elevated CO2, temperature and drought on photosynthesis of nodulated alfalfa during a cutting regrowth cycle. Physiologia Plantarum, 126, 458-468. |
| [17] | Fan XM (范雪梅), Jiang D (姜东), Dai TB (戴廷波), Jing Q (荆奇), Cao WX (曹卫星) (2006). Effects of nitrogen on grain yield and quality in wheat growth under drought or waterlogging stress from anthesis to maturity. Journal of Plant Ecology (formerly Acta Phytoecologica Sinica) (Chinese Version) (植物生态学报), 30, 71-77. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [18] | Francis DD, Schepers JS, Sims AL (1997). Ammonia exchange from corn foliage during reproductive growth. Agronomy Journal, 89, 941-946. |
| [19] | Gerdol R, Iacumin P, Marchesini R, Bragazza L (2000). Water-and nutrient-use efficiency of a deciduous species, Vaccinium myrtillus, and an evergreen species, V. vitis-idaea, in a subalpine dwarf shrub heath in the southern Alps, Italy. Oikos, 88, 19-32. |
| [20] | Hamerlynck EP, Huxman TE, Loik ME, Smith SD (2000). Effects of extreme high temperature, drought and elevated CO2 on photosynthesis of Mojave Desert evergreen shrub, Larrea dridentata. Plant Ecology, 148, 183-193. |
| [21] | Handa IT, K?rner C, H?ttenschwiler S (2005). A test of the treeline carbon limitation hypothesis by in situ CO2 enrichment and defoliation. Ecology, 86, 1288-1300. |
| [22] | Harper LA, Sharpe RR, Langdale GW, Giddens JE (1987). Nitrogen cycling in a wheat crop: soil, plant, and aerial nitrogen transport. Agronomy Journal, 79, 965-973. |
| [23] | H?ttenschwiler S, Zunbrunn T (2006). Hemiparasite abundance in an alpine treeline ecotone increases in response to atmospheric CO2 enrichment. Oecologia, 147, 47-52. |
| [24] | Heckathorn SA, DeLucia EH, Zielinski RE (1997). The contribution of drought-related decreases in foliar nitrogen concentration to decreases in photosynthetic capacity during and after drought in prairie grasses. Physiologia Plantarum, 101, 173-182. |
| [25] | Hu HF (胡会峰), Wang ZH (王志恒), Liu GH (刘国华), Fu BJ (傅伯杰) (2006). Vegetation carbon storage of major shrublands in China. Journal of Plant Ecology (formerly Acta Phytoecologica Sinica) (Chinese Version) (植物生态学报), 30, 539-544. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [26] | Hua LJ (华丽娟), Ma ZG (马柱国), Luo SH (罗德海) (2004). Analysis of temperature range from 1961 through 2000 across China. Acta Geographica Sinica (地理学报), 59, 680-688. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [27] | IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2001). Third Assessment Report of Working Group I. United Nations Environment Programme, Geneva, Switzerland. |
| [28] | Jia XL (贾秀领), Jian JL (蹇家利), Ma RK (马瑞昆), Lu JL (鲁建立) (1999). A study on water use efficiency and its components in high-yielding winter wheat. Acta Agronomica Sinica (作物学报), 25, 309-314. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [29] | Jiang CZ, Ishihara K, Satoh K, Katoh S (1999). Loss of the photosynthetic capacity and protein in senescence leaves at positions of two cultivars of rice in relation to source capacity of the leaves for carbon and nitrogen. Plant and Cell Physiology, 40, 496-503. |
| [30] | Jiang Y, Huang B (2001). Drought and heat stress injury to cool season turfgrasses in relation to antioxidant metabolism and lipid peroxidaion. Crop Science, 41, 436-442. |
| [31] | Karst AL, Lechowicz MJ (2007). Are correlations among foliar traits in ferns consistent with those in the seed plants? New Phytologist, 173, 306-312. |
| [32] | Keles Y, ?ncel I (2002). Response of antioxidative defence system to temperature and water stress combinations in wheat seedlings. Plant Science, 163, 783-790. |
| [33] | Lam HM, Coschigano KT, Oliveira IC, Melo-Oliveira R, Coruzzi GM (1996). The molecular genetics of nitrogen assimilation into amino acids in higher plants. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology, 47, 569-593. |
| [34] | Li FS, Kang SZ, Zhang JH, Cohen S (2003). Effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment, water status and applied nitrogen on water- and nitrogen-use efficiencies of wheat. Plant and Soil, 254, 279-289. |
| [35] | Llorens L, Pe?uelas J, Estiarte M (2003). Ecophysiological responses of two Mediterranean shrubs, Erica multiflora and Globularia alypum, to experimentally drier and warmer conditions. Physiologia Plantarum, 119, 231-243. |
| [36] | Long SP, Zhu XG, Naidu SL, Ort DR (2006). Can improvement in photosynthesis increase crop yield? Plant, Cell and Environment, 29, 315-330. |
| [37] | Lu C, Zhang J (1999). Effects of water stress on photosystem Ⅱ photochemistry and its thermostability in wheat plants. Journal of Experimental Botany, 50, 1199-1206. |
| [38] | Matros A, Amme S, Kettig B, Buck-Sorlin GH, Sonnewald U, MocK HP (2006). Growth at elevated CO2 concentrations leads to modified profiles of secondary metabolites in tobacco cv. SamsunNN and to increased resistance against infection with potato virus Y. Plant, Cell and Environment, 29, 126-137. |
| [39] | Matyssek R, Le Thiec D, Low M, Dizengremel P, Nunn AJ, Haberle KH (2006). Interactions between drought and O3 stress in forest trees. Plant Biology, 8, 11-17. |
| [40] | McKee IF, Long SP (2001). Plant growth regulators control ozone damage to wheat yield. New Phytologist, 162, 41-51. |
| [41] | McKee IF, Woodward FI (1994). CO2 enrichment responses of wheat: interactions with temperature, nitrate and phosphate. New Phytologist, 127, 447-453. |
| [42] | Morgan JA, Lecain DR, Mosier AR, Milchunas DG (2001). Elevated CO2 enhances water relations and productivity and affects gas exchange in C3 and C4 grasses of the Colorado shortgrass steppe. Global Change Biology, 7, 451-466. |
| [43] | Norman RJ, Guindo D, Wells BR, Wilson JR (1992). Seasonal accumulation and partition of nitrogen-15 in rice. Soil Science Society of American Journal, 56, 1521-1527. |
| [44] | Ntanos DA, Koutroubas SD (2002). Dry matter and N accumulation and translocation for Indica and Japonica rice under Mediterranean conditions. Field Crops Research, 74, 93-101. |
| [45] | Onoda Y, Hikosaka K, Hirose T (2004). Allocation of nitrogen to cell walls decreases photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency. Functional Ecology, 18, 419-425. |
| [46] | Papakosta DK, Gagianas AA (1991). Nitrogen and dry matter accumulation, remobilization, and losses for Mediterranean wheat during grain filling. Agronomy Journal, 83, 864-870. |
| [47] | Paponov I, Engels C (2003). Effects of nitrogen supply on leaf traits related to photosynthesis during grain filling in two maize genotypes with different N efficiency. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 166, 756-763. |
| [48] | Paul MJ, Driscoll SP (1997). Sugar repression of photosynthesis: the role of carbohydrates in signaling nitrogen deficiency through source:sink imbalance. Plant, Cell and Environment, 20, 110-116. |
| [49] | Qin DH (秦大河). Climate and Environment Changes in China. Volume I: Climate and Environmental Changes in China and Their Projections (中国气候与环境演变, 第一卷:中国气候与环境的演变及预测). Science Press, Beijing, 531-533. (in Chinese) |
| [50] | Rizhsky L, Liang HJ, Shuman J, Shulaev V, Davletova S, Mittler R (2004). When defense pathways collide. The response of Arabidopsis to a combination of drought and heat stress. Plant Physiology, 134, 1683-1696. |
| [51] | Sack L, Grubb PJ (2002). The combined impacts of deep shade and drought on the growth and biomass allocation of shade-tolerant woody seedlings. Oecologia, 131, 175-185. |
| [52] | Shah NH, Paulsen GM (2003). Interaction of drought and high temperature on photosynthesis and grain-filling of wheat. Plant and Soil, 257, 219-226. |
| [53] | Shan L (山仑) (2003). Water-saving agriculture and crop high efficient use of water. Journal of Henan University (Natural Science Edition) (河南大学学报(自然科学版)), 33, 1-5. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [54] | Shan L (山仑), Deng XP (邓西平), Kang SZ (康绍忠) (2002). Current situation and perspective of agriculture water used in semiarid area of China. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering (水利学报), (9), 27-31. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [55] | Sicher RC, Bunce JA (1997). Relationship of photosynthetic acclimation to changes of Rubisco activity in field-grown winter wheat and barley during growth in elevated carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis Research, 52, 27-38. |
| [56] | Sinclair TR, Pinter PJ, Kimball BA, Adamsen FJ, LaMorte RL, Wall GW, Hunsaker DJ, Adam N, Brook TJ, Garcia RL, Thompson T, Leavitt S, Mattias A (2000). Leaf nitrogen concentration of wheat subjected to elevated [CO2] and either water or N deficits. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 79, 53-60. |
| [57] | Snow MD, Bard RR, Olszyk DM, Olszyk DM, Minster LM, Hager AN, Tingey DT (2003). Monoterpene levels in needles of Douglas fir exposed to elevated CO2 and temperature. Physiologia Plantarum, 117, 352-358. |
| [58] | Solomonson LP, Barber MJ (1990). Assimilatory nitrate reductase:functional properties and regulation. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology, 41, 225-253. |
| [59] | Song JM (宋建民), Tian JC (田纪春), Zhao SJ (赵世杰) (1998). Relationship between photosynthetic carbon and nitrogen metabolism in plants and its regulation. Plant Physiology Communications (植物生理学通讯), 34, 230-238. (in Chinese) |
| [60] | Subedi KD, Ma BL (2005). Effects of N-deficiency and timing of N supply on the recovery and distribution of labeled15N in contrasting maize hybrids. Plant and Soil, 273, 189-202. |
| [61] | Takashima T, Hikosaka K, Hirose T (2004). Photosynthesis or persistence: nitrogen allocation in leaves of evergreen and deciduous Quercus species. Plant, Cell and Environment, 27, 1047-1054. |
| [62] | Tingey DT, Mckane RB, Olszyk DM, Johnson MG, Rygiewicz P, Lee EH (2003). Elevated CO2 and temperature alter nitrogen allocation in Douglas-fir. Global Change Biology, 9, 1038-1050. |
| [63] | Tingey DT, Rodecap KD, Lee EH, Hogsett WE, Gregg JW (2002). Pod development increases the ozone sensitivity of Phaseolus vulgaris. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 139, 325-341. |
| [64] | Turnbull MH, Murthy R, Griffin K (2002). The relative impacts of daytime and night-time warming on photosynthetic capacity in Populus deltoides. Plant, Cell and Environment, 25, 1729-1737. |
| [65] | Volder A, Edwards EJ, Evans JR, Robertson BC, Schortemeyer M, Gifford RM (2004). Does greater night-time, rather than constant, warming alter growth of managed pasture under ambient and elevated atmospheric CO2? New Phytologist, 162, 397-411. |
| [66] | Wang CT (王长庭), Long RJ (龙瑞军), Cao GM (曹广民), Wang QL (王启兰), Ding LM (丁路明), Shi JJ (施建军) (2006). Soil carbon and nitrogen contents along elevation gradients in the source region of Yangtze, Yellow and Lantsang rivers. Journal of Plant Ecology (Chinese Version) (formerly Acta Phytoecologica Sinica) (植物生态学报)), 30, 441-449. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [67] | Wang ZP (王智平), Chen QS (陈全胜) (2005). Recently photosynthesized carbon allocation and turnover: a minor review of the literature. Acta Phytoecologica Sinica (植物生态学报), 29, 845-850. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [68] | Waring J, Underwood GJC, Baker NR (2006). Impact of elevated UV-B radiation on photosynthetic electron transport, primary productivity and carbon allocation in estuarine epipelic diatoms. Plant, Cell and Environment, 29, 521-534. |
| [69] | Wigley TML, Raper SCB (2001). Interpretation of high projections for global-mean warming. Science, 293, 451-454. |
| [70] | Wu S (吴姝), Zhang SY (张树源), Shen YG (沈允钢) (1998). The effect of day and night temperature difference on photosynthetic characteristics in wheat. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentatalia Sinica (西北植物学报), 18, 103-109. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [71] | Xu ZZ (许振柱), Zhou GS (周广胜) (2004). Research advance in nitrogen metabolism of plant and its environmental regulation. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 15, 511-516. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [72] | Xu ZZ (许振柱), Zhou GS (周广胜), Xiao CW (肖春旺), Wang YH (王玉辉) (2004). Response of two dominated desert shrubs to soil drought under doubled CO2 condition. Acta Ecolog-ica Sinica (生态学报), 24, 2186-2191. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [73] | Xu ZZ (许振柱), Zhou GS (周广胜), Xiao CW (肖春旺), Wang YH (王玉辉) (2005a). Interactive effects of double atmospheric CO2 concentraitons and soil drought on whole plant carbon allocation in two dominant desert shrubs. Acta Phytoecologica Sinica (植物生态学报), 29, 281-288. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [74] | Xu ZZ (许振柱), Zhou GS (周广胜), Wang YH (王玉辉) (2005b). Response of grassland ecosystem to CO2 enrichment and climate change. Journal of Applied Meteorological Science (应用气象学报), 16, 385-395. (in Chinese with English abstract) |
| [75] | Xu ZZ, Yu ZW (2006). Nitrogen metabolism in flag leaf and grain of wheat in response to irrigation regimes. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 169, 118-126. |
| [76] | Xu ZZ, Yu ZW, Wang D, Zhang YL (2005c). Nitrogen accumulation and translocation for winter wheat under different irrigation regimes. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 191, 439-449. |
| [77] | Xu ZZ, Zhou GS (2005a). Effects of water stress on carbon allocation in the perennial grass Leymus chinensis under two nocturnal temperatures. Physiologia Plantarum, 123, 272-280. |
| [78] | Xu ZZ, Zhou GS (2005b). Effects of water stress and high nocturnal temperature on photosynthesis and nitrogen level of a perennial grass Leymus chinensis. Plant and Soil, 269, 131-139. |
| [79] | Xu ZZ, Zhou GS (2006). Combined effects of water stress and high temperature on photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and lipid peroxidation of a perennial grass Leymus chinensis. Planta, 224, 1080-1090. |
| [80] | Xue XP (薛晓萍), Wang JG (王建国), Guo WQ (郭文琦), Chen BL (陈兵林), You J (尤军), Zhou ZG (周治国)(2006). Effect of nitrogen applied levels on the dynamics of biomass, nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen fertilization recovery rate of cotton after initial flowering. Acta Ecologica Sinica (生态学报), 26, 3631-3640. |
| [81] | Yang J, Zhang J, Wang Z, Zhu Q, Liu L (2001). Water deficit induced senescence and its relationship to the remobilization of pre-stored carbon in wheat during grain filling. Agronomy Journal, 93, 196-206. |
| [82] | Zuo TJ (左天觉) (2003). Science agriculture—new eyeshot in 2050. Nature (the voice of China, Suppl.18/25), A21-A23. (in Chinese) |
/
| 〈 |
|
〉 |
Copyright © 2026 Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology
Tel: 010-62836134, 62836138, E-mail: apes@ibcas.ac.cn, cjpe@ibcas.ac.cn
