Growth and yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) crops in response to CO2and temperature

SUMMARY Crops of winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Hereward) were grown within temperature gradient tunnels at a range of temperatures at either c. 350 or 700 μmol mol −1 CO 2 in 1991/92 and 1992/93 at Reading, UK. At terminal spikelet stage, leaf area was 45% greater at elevated CO 2 in the first year due to more tillers, and was 30% greater in the second year due to larger leaf areas on the primary tillers. At harvest maturity, total crop biomass was negatively related to mean seasonal temperature within each year and CO 2 treatment, due principally to shorter crop durations at the warmer temperatures. Biomass was 6–31% greater at elevated compared with normal CO 2 and was also affected by a positive interaction between temperature and CO 2 in the first year only. Seed yield per unit area was greater at cooler temperatures and at elevated CO 2 concentrations. A 7–44% greater seed dry weight at elevated CO 2 in the first year was due to more ears per unit area and heavier grains. In the following year, mean seed dry weight was increased by > 72% at elevated CO 2 , because grain numbers per ear did not decline with an increase in temperature at elevated CO 2 . Grain numbers were reduced by temperatures > 31 °C immediately before anthesis at normal atmospheric CO 2 in 1992/93, and at both CO 2 concentrations in 1991/92. To quantify the impact of future climates of elevated CO 2 concentrations and warmer temperatures on wheat yields, consideration of both interactions between CO 2 and mean seasonal temperature, and possible effects of instantaneous temperatures on yield components at different CO 2 concentrations are required. Nevertheless, the results obtained suggest that the benefits to winter wheat grain yield from CO 2 doubling are offset by an increase in mean seasonal temperature of only 1·0 °C to 1·8 °C in the UK.