Leaf respiration in darkness and in the light under pre-industrial, current and elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations

• Soybean was grown under 290, 400 and 700 ppm atmospheric [CO2].
• We exampled the effect of [CO2] on leaf respiration in darkness and in the light.
• The degree of light inhibition of leaf respiration was lowest in plants grown under low [CO2].
• Variations in respiration in the light were linked to variations in photorespiration.
• Our results highlight the asynchronous responses of photosynthesis and respiration to atmospheric [CO2].

Our study sought to understand how past, low atmospheric CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) impact respiration (R) of soybean (Glycine max), when compared to plants grown under current and future [CO2]s. Experiments were conducted using plants grown under 290, 400 and 700 ppm [CO2]. Leaf R was measured in both darkness (RD) and in the light (RL; using the Kok method), with short-term changes in measurement [CO2] and [O2] being used to explore the relationship between light inhibition of leaf R and photorespiration. Root R, photosynthesis (A), leaf [N] and biomass allocation traits were also quantified. In contrast to the inhibitory effect of low growth [CO2] on A, growth [CO2] had no significant effect on leaf RD or root R. Irrespective of growth [CO2], RL was always lower than RD, with light inhibiting leaf R by 17–47%. Importantly, the degree of light inhibition of leaf R was lowest in plants grown under low [CO2], with variations in RL being positively correlated with RD and photorespiration. Irrespective of whether leaf R was measured in the light or dark, a greater proportion of the carbon fixed by leaf photosynthesis was released by leaf R in plants grown under low [CO2] than under current/future [CO2]’s. Collectively, our results highlight the differential responses of A and R to growth of plants under low to elevated atmospheric [CO2].