Photosynthetic response of geranium to elevated CO₂ as affected by leaf age and time of CO₂ exposure

Geranium plants were grown from seed in chambers maintained at 350 or 1000 μL∙L −1 CO 2 . Phtopsynthesis as affected by leaf age and by leaf position was determined. Elevated CO 2 enhanced photosynthesis to the greatest extent in middle-aged leaves; very young leaves exhibited little enhancement, and net photosynthesis in the oldest leaves was depressed by elevated CO 2 . Temporary increases in net photosynthesis (relative to leaves developed at high CO 2 ) resulted when young leaves grown at 350 μL∙L −1 CO 2 were switched to 1000 μL∙L −1 CO 2 . Leaves switched later in development exhibited permanent enhancement. Middle-aged leaves exhibited a temporary depression followed by permanent enhancement. Leaves developed at high CO 2 and switched to low CO 2 did not exhibit any photosynthetic depression relative to plants grown continuously at low CO 2 . Similarly, leaves developed at low CO 2 , switched to high CO 2 for various lengths of time, and returned to low CO 2 showed no photosynthetic depression. Leaves developed at low CO 2 and switched to high CO 2 exhibited increases in specific leaf weight and leaf thickness. The increase in leaf thickness was proportional to length of time spent at high CO 2 . High CO 2 depressed the rate at which stomata developed but did not affect final stomatal density. Results suggest that photosynthesis at low CO 2 was limited by CO 2 regardless of developmental environment, whereas photosynthesis at high CO 2 was limited by the developmental characteristics of the leaf. Further, both biochemical and structural modifications appear to be involved in this response. Because of the very different responses of young versus old leaves, future studies should be careful to consider leaf age in assessing response to elevated CO 2 .