The Influence of Carbon Dioxide or Ozone Concentration on Growth and Assimilate Partitioning in Seedlings of Nine Conifers

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Abstract
Seedlings of nine different conifers were exposed to 355 and 730 μmol mol-1 CO2, or low (> 15 nmol mol−1) and elevated 03 concentration (70 nmol mol−1) for 81–116 days. The experiments were conducted in growth chambers placed in a greenhouse. Increased CO2 concentration enhanced the mean relative growth rate (RGR) and total plant dry weight by 4 and 33% in Larix leptolepis, by 4 and 38% in Larix sibirica, by 7 and 47% in Picea glauca and by 3 and 16% in Picea sitchensis, respectively. The growth rates and dry weights of Pimis contorta, Pinus mugo and Pseudotsuga menziesii were not significantly affected. Carbon dioxide enrichment enhanced RGR of two provenances of Picea abies by 4 and 6%, respectively, while a third provenance was unaffected. In Pimis sylvestris, only the RGR of one of three provenances was stimulated by CO2 enrichment (4%). After two growth seasons CO2 enrichment enhanced RGR and total plant dry weight by 11 and 35% in Picea abies and by 12 and 36% in Pinus sylvestris, respectively. Elevated CO2 decreased the shoot:root ratio in Larix leptolepis, and decreased the needlerstem ratio in Picea glauca, but increased it in Pseudotsuga menziesii. Elevated O3 significantly decreased the plant dry weight in Picea sitchensis, Pseudotsuga menziesii and in one of three provenances of Pinus sylvestris, while the other species and provenances were unaffected. Increased O3 concentration increased the shoot:root dry weight ratio in one of three Picea abies provenances, in all three Pinus sylvestris provenances and in Pinus contorta. The needle:stem ratio was enhanced by O3 in seven of the nine species. The O3 exposure caused chlorosis of needles in all species except Pseudotsuga menziesii.