The Interactive Effect of Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> and Herbivores on the Nitrogen-Fixing Plant <i>Alnus incana</i> ssp. <i>rugosa</i>
Many studies have found that future predicted CO<sub>2</sub> levels can increase plant mass but dilute N content in leaves, impacting antiherbivore compounds. Nitrogen-fixing plants may balance their leaf C:N ratio under elevated CO<sub>2</sub>, counteracting this dilution ef...
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/440 |
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| author | Haoran Chen John Markham |
| author_facet | Haoran Chen John Markham |
| author_sort | Haoran Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many studies have found that future predicted CO<sub>2</sub> levels can increase plant mass but dilute N content in leaves, impacting antiherbivore compounds. Nitrogen-fixing plants may balance their leaf C:N ratio under elevated CO<sub>2</sub>, counteracting this dilution effect. However, we know little of how plants respond to herbivores at the higher CO<sub>2</sub> levels that occurred when nitrogen-fixing plants first evolved. We grew <i>Alnus incana</i> ssp. <i>rugosa</i> was grown at 400, 800, or 1600 ppm CO<sub>2</sub> in soil collected from the field, inoculated with <i>Frankia</i> and exposed to herbivores (<i>Orgyia leucostigma</i>). Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> increased nodulated plant biomass and stimulated the nitrogen fixation rate in the early growth stage. However, nitrogen-fixing plants were not able to balance their C:N ratio under elevated CO<sub>2</sub> after growing for 19 weeks. When plants were grown at 400 and 1600 ppm CO<sub>2,</sub> herbivores preferred to feed on leaves of nodulated plants. At 800 ppm CO<sub>2</sub>, nodulated plants accumulated more total phenolic compounds in response to herbivore damage than plants in the non-<i>Frankia</i> and non-herbivore treatments. Our results suggest that plant leaf defence, not leaf nutritional content, is the dominant driver of herbivory and nitrogen-fixing plants have limited ability to balance C:N ratios at elevated CO<sub>2</sub> in natural soil. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:31:38Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:31:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-940a0a82036a4d3da5e151291fd73f462023-12-11T18:30:46ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-02-0110344010.3390/plants10030440The Interactive Effect of Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> and Herbivores on the Nitrogen-Fixing Plant <i>Alnus incana</i> ssp. <i>rugosa</i>Haoran Chen0John Markham1Department of Biological Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, CanadaDepartment of Biological Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, CanadaMany studies have found that future predicted CO<sub>2</sub> levels can increase plant mass but dilute N content in leaves, impacting antiherbivore compounds. Nitrogen-fixing plants may balance their leaf C:N ratio under elevated CO<sub>2</sub>, counteracting this dilution effect. However, we know little of how plants respond to herbivores at the higher CO<sub>2</sub> levels that occurred when nitrogen-fixing plants first evolved. We grew <i>Alnus incana</i> ssp. <i>rugosa</i> was grown at 400, 800, or 1600 ppm CO<sub>2</sub> in soil collected from the field, inoculated with <i>Frankia</i> and exposed to herbivores (<i>Orgyia leucostigma</i>). Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> increased nodulated plant biomass and stimulated the nitrogen fixation rate in the early growth stage. However, nitrogen-fixing plants were not able to balance their C:N ratio under elevated CO<sub>2</sub> after growing for 19 weeks. When plants were grown at 400 and 1600 ppm CO<sub>2,</sub> herbivores preferred to feed on leaves of nodulated plants. At 800 ppm CO<sub>2</sub>, nodulated plants accumulated more total phenolic compounds in response to herbivore damage than plants in the non-<i>Frankia</i> and non-herbivore treatments. Our results suggest that plant leaf defence, not leaf nutritional content, is the dominant driver of herbivory and nitrogen-fixing plants have limited ability to balance C:N ratios at elevated CO<sub>2</sub> in natural soil.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/440elevated CO<sub>2</sub>nitrogen-fixing plantsherbivorestotal phenolic compoundsC:N ratio |
| spellingShingle | Haoran Chen John Markham The Interactive Effect of Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> and Herbivores on the Nitrogen-Fixing Plant <i>Alnus incana</i> ssp. <i>rugosa</i> Plants elevated CO<sub>2</sub> nitrogen-fixing plants herbivores total phenolic compounds C:N ratio |
| title | The Interactive Effect of Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> and Herbivores on the Nitrogen-Fixing Plant <i>Alnus incana</i> ssp. <i>rugosa</i> |
| title_full | The Interactive Effect of Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> and Herbivores on the Nitrogen-Fixing Plant <i>Alnus incana</i> ssp. <i>rugosa</i> |
| title_fullStr | The Interactive Effect of Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> and Herbivores on the Nitrogen-Fixing Plant <i>Alnus incana</i> ssp. <i>rugosa</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Interactive Effect of Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> and Herbivores on the Nitrogen-Fixing Plant <i>Alnus incana</i> ssp. <i>rugosa</i> |
| title_short | The Interactive Effect of Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> and Herbivores on the Nitrogen-Fixing Plant <i>Alnus incana</i> ssp. <i>rugosa</i> |
| title_sort | interactive effect of elevated co sub 2 sub and herbivores on the nitrogen fixing plant i alnus incana i ssp i rugosa i |
| topic | elevated CO<sub>2</sub> nitrogen-fixing plants herbivores total phenolic compounds C:N ratio |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/440 |
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