Notes: To test the predictions that plants will have a larger flavonoid concentration in a future world with a CO2-enriched atmosphere, wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yecora Rojo) was grown in a field experiment using FACE (free-air CO2 enrichment) technology under two levels of atmospheric CO2 concentration: ambient (370 μmol mol−1) and enriched (550 μmol mol−1), and under two levels of irrigation: well-watered (100% replacement of potential evapotranspiration) and half-watered. We also studied the effects of CO2 on the concentration of total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) and nitrogen (N), two parameters hypothesized to be linked to flavonoid metabolism. Throughout the growth cycle the concentration of isoorientin, the most abundant flavonoid, decreased by 62% (from an average of 12.5 mg g−1 on day of year (DOY) 41 to an average of 4.8 mg g−1 on DOY 123), whereas the concentration of tricin, another characteristic flavone, increased by two orders of magnitude (from an average of 0.007 mg g−1 of isoorientin equivalents on DOY 41 to an average of 0.6 mg g−1 of isoorientin equivalents on DOY 123). Although flavonoid concentration was dependent on growth stage, the effects of treatments on phenology did not invalidate the comparisons between treatments. CO2-enriched plants had higher flavonoid concentrations (14% more isoorientin, an average of 7.0 mg g−1 for ambient CO2 vs an average of 8.0 mg g−1 for enriched CO2), higher TNC concentrations and lower N concentrations in ukpper canopy leaves throughout the growth cycle. Well-irrigated plants had higher flavonoid concentrations (11% more isoorientin, an average of 7.1 mg g−1 for half watered vs an average of 7.9 mg g−1 for well-watered) throughout the growth cycle, whereas the effect of irrigation treatments on TNC and N was more variable. These results are in accordance with the hypotheses that higher carbon availability promoted by CO2-enrichment provides carbon that can be invested in carbon-based secondary compounds such as flavonoids. The rise in atmospheric CO2 may thus indirectly affect wheat-pest relations, alter the pathogen predisposition and improve the UV-B protection by changing flavonoid concentrations.

Notes: 2 concentration and associated climate change on crop yields. Such model predictions are largely untested in the field, for lack of experimental data. We tested the CERES-Wheat model, modified to include leaf-level photosynthesis response to elevated CO2 using field data from 2 yr of Free-Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) experiments with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yecora Rojo) in Maricopa, AZ. Two irrigation treatments (well-watered, WW; water-deficit stressed, WS) and two atmospheric CO2 concentrations (ambient, 350 μmol mol-1, elevated, 550 μmol mol-1) were simulated. The model was evaluated using measurements of crop phenology, aboveground dry matter (DM) production, grain yield, and evapotranspiration (ET). Model calculations of crop phenology were within 2 to 3 d of observed values under WW, ambient CO2 conditions in both years. The model did not simulate the accelerated crop phenology (5-8 d at physiological maturity) observed in the WW and elevated CO2 treatments, indicating the need to include effects of increased stomatal resistance on canopy temperature. Simulations of DM and grain yield were within 10% of measured values, except for a tendency to overcalculate DM response to CO2 by 10 to 15% in Year 1 for WS treatments. The model undercalculated cumulative ET under WW conditions by 15%; model sensitivity analyses suggest that simulation of potential evapotranspiration (PET) was too low for this arid site. The model reproduced measured dynamics of CO2-water interactions. Simulated reductions in water loss due to elevated CO2 were about 4%, in agreement with measurements. The model simulated larger increases in DM production and yield due to elevated CO2 under WS than under WW conditions. In Year 1, simulated crop response to CO2 was 2% larger (measured:3%) under WS than under WW conditions; in Year 2, it was 11% larger (measured: to be further evaluated with additional experimental datasets, is an important attribute of models used to project crop yields under elevated CO2 and climate change.

Notes: 2 and limited soil nitrogen on spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at the University of Arizona's Maricopa Agricultural Center, near Phoenix, AZ. "Greenness" measurements were made during senescence of the crop with a color digital camera, a hand-held radiometer, and a SPAD chlorophyll meter. The green to red (G/R) for each pixel in an image was calculated and the average G/R computed for cropped images from a digital camera representing 1 m2 for each treatment and sample date. The normalized difference vegetation index (NVDI) was calculated from the red and near-infrared canopy reflectances measured with a hand held radiometer. A SPAD reading was obtained from randomly selected flag leaves. All three methods of measuring plant greenness showed similar temporal trends. The relationships between G/R with NDVI and SPAD were linear over most of the range of G/R. However, NDVI was more sensitive at low values than G/R. G/R was more sensitive above G/R values of 1.2 than SPAD because the upper limits of SPAD measurements were constrained by the amount of chlorophyll in the leaf, while G/R responded to both chlorophyll concentration in the leaves as well as the number of leaves present. Color digital imaging appears useful for quantifying the senescence of crop canopies. The cost of color digital cameras is expected to decrease and the quality and convenience of use to improve.