Effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment on biomass, yield and low molecular weight metabolites in wheat grain

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown in a free-air carbon dioxide (CO2) enrichment (FACE) field experiment. Grain and biomass yield and its components were determined at maturity and the grain metabolome was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Elevated CO2 (537 versus 409 μl l−1) increased biomass production except for leaves. In total, levels of 16 grain metabolites were decreased and four were increased. CO2 enrichment resulted in significant decreases of amino acids such as o-acetyl-L-homoserine, leucine, arginine, L-homoserine and the group of ornithine, arginine and citrulline and negative trends for norleucine, L-aspartate, proline, L-cysteine and tyrosine. The amines D/L-diaminopimelate and alpha-ketoaminobutyrate and the polyamine putrescine were significantly decreased. In contrast, the polyamine spermidine tended to increase under elevated CO2. Among sugars and sugar derivatives, ribose-5-P was significantly increased, while gluconate-6-P was decreased. There were also negative CO2-induced effects on sugar alcohols: significant for glycerol-2-P (P = 0.008) and almost significant for myo-inositol-P (P = 0.066). In contrast, organic acids such as pyruvate and glucuronic acid were significantly increased. Overall, the N-rich metabolites especially were reduced. CO2 enrichment can markedly affect the physiology and metabolome of mature grains which may in turn lead to changes in nutritional status.