Growth of bean in high CO2: Effects on shoot mineral composition1

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Abstract
It is widely recognized that a high CO2 concentration in the atmosphere can alter plant growth, but the effects of high CO2 on other plant characteristics are unclear. Bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in 1200 μ1 1‐1 CO2 reached a maximum vegetative shoot dry weight more rapidly than ambient‐CO2‐grown (350 μ1 1‐1) plants. While shoot dry weights of high CO2‐grown plants are higher at some plant ages, the overall effect of CO2 is negligible. Growth in high CO2 suppresses the tissue concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium; but does not affect the absolute tissue content of these minerals. The data suggest that high CO2 alters the concentration of these mineral elements during the period of maximum growth, presumably by dilution with carbohydrate.