Acclimation of photosynthetic tolerance to acute heat stress at elevated CO2 and N

Determining interactive effects of pre-heat-stress, CO2 and N on photosynthetic thermotolerance is necessary for predicting plant responses to global change. We grew Hordeum vulgare (barley, C3) and Zea mays (corn, C4) at current or elevated CO2 (370 and 700 ppm) and limiting or optimal soil N (0.5 and 7.5 mM). We assessed basal and inducible thermotolerance of net photosynthesis (Pn), photosystem II efficiency (F′v/F′m), photochemical quenching (qp), carboxylation efficiency (CE), and rubisco activase content. Inducible thermotolerance was measured on plants which were pre-heat-stressed (PHS) for 4 h before heat stress. We also assayed content of several major heat-shock proteins (HSPs), as HSPs are primary adaptations to heat stress and affected by N. Acclimation of photosynthetic thermotolerance was dependent on species, CO2 and N treatment and the component in the photosynthetic processes. PHS had a positive effect on the production of HSP60 and sHSP in low-N barley and corn. These results indicate that stimulatory effects of elevated CO2 at normal temperatures on photosynthesis may be partly changed by the different interactive effects of CO2, heat stress and N for species with different photosynthetic pathways. Thus, PHS, CO2 and N effects on photosynthetic thermotolerance may contribute to changes in plant productivity, distribution, and diversity.