Genotypic variation in morphological source and sink traits affects the response of rice photosynthesis and growth to elevated atmospheric CO 2

This study aimed to understand the response of photosynthesis and growth to e-CO 2 conditions (800 vs. 400 μmol mol -1 ) of rice genotypes differing in source-sink relationships. A proxy trait called local C source-sink ratio was defined as the ratio of flag leaf area over the number of spikelets on the corresponding panicle, and five genotypes differing in this ratio were grown in a controlled greenhouse. Differential CO 2 resources were applied either during the two weeks following heading (EXP1) or during the whole growth cycle (EXP2). Under e-CO 2 , low source-sink ratio cultivars (LSS) had greater gains in photosynthesis, and they accumulated less nonstructural carbohydrate in the flag leaf than high source-sink ratio cultivars (HSS). In EXP2, grain yield and biomass gain was also greater in LSS probably caused by their strong sink. Photosynthetic capacity response to e-CO 2 was negatively correlated across genotypes with local C source-sink ratio, a trait highly conserved across environments. HSS were sink-limited under e-CO 2 , probably associated with low triose phosphate utilization ( TPU ) capacity. We suggest that the local C source-sink ratio is a potential target for selecting more CO 2 -responsive cultivars, pending validation for a broader genotypic spectrum and for field conditions. Highlight Rice local carbon source-sink ratio and sink plasticity can drive genotypic responses of leaf photosynthesis and plant production in a CO 2 elevation context.