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Plant carbon-use-efficiency (CUE), a key parameter in carbon cycle and plant growth models, quantifies the fraction of fixed carbon that is converted into net primary production rather than respired. CUE has not been directly measured, partly because of the difficulty of measuring respiration in light. Here, we explore if CUE is affected by atmospheric CO2. Sunflower stands were grown at low (200 μmol mol−1) or high CO2 (1000 μmol mol−1) in controlled environment mesocosms. CUE of stands was measured by dynamic stand-scale 13C labelling and partitioning of photosynthesis and respiration. At the same plant age, growth at high CO2 (compared with low CO2) led to 91% higher rates of apparent photosynthesis, 97% higher respiration in the dark, yet 143% higher respiration in light. Thus, CUE was significantly lower at high (0.65) than at low CO2 (0.71). Compartmental analysis of isotopic tracer kinetics demonstrated a greater commitment of carbon reserves in stand-scale respiratory metabolism at high CO2. Two main processes contributed to the reduction of CUE at high CO2: a reduced inhibition of leaf respiration by light and a diminished leaf mass ratio. This work highlights the relevance of measuring respiration in light and assessment of the CUE response to environment conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of nitrogen (N) stress on the pool system supplying currently assimilated and (re)mobilized N for leaf growth of a grass was explored by dynamic 15N labeling, assessment of total and labeled N import into leaf growth zones, and compartmental analysis of the label import data. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) plants, grown with low or high levels of N fertilization, were labeled with 15NO3-/14NO3 from 2 h to more than 20 d. In both treatments, the tracer time course in N imported into the growth zones fitted a two-pool model (r² > 0.99). This consisted of a "substrate pool," which received N from current uptake and supplied the growth zone, and a recycling/mobilizing "store," which exchanged with the substrate pool. N deficiency halved the leaf elongation rate, decreased N import into the growth zone, lengthened the delay between tracer uptake and its arrival in the growth zone (2.2 h versus 0.9 h), slowed the turnover of the substrate pool (half-life of 3.2 h versus 0.6 h), and increased its size (12.4 μg versus 5.9 μg). The store contained the equivalent of approximately 10 times (low N) an approximately five times (high N) the total daily N import into the growth zone. Its turnover agreed with that of protein turnover. Remarkably, the relative contribution of mobilization to leaf growth was large and similar (approximately 45%) in both treatments. We conclude that turnover and size of the substrate pool are related to the sink strength of the growth zone, whereas the contribution of the store is influenced by partitioning between sinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism controlling the use of stored carbon in respiration is poorly understood. Here, we explore if the reliance on stores as respiratory substrate depends on day length. Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) was grown in continuous light (275 lmol photons m-2 s-1) or in a 16 : 8 h day : night regime (425 lmol m-2 s-1 during the photoperiod), with the same daily photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Plants in stands were labelled with 13CO2 : 12CO2 for various time intervals. The rates and isotopic signatures of shoot- and root-respired CO2 were measured after labelling, and water-soluble carbohydrates were determined in biomass. The tracer kinetics in respired CO2 was analysed with compartmental models to infer the sizes, half-lives and contributions of respiratory substrate pools. Stores were the main source for respiration in both treatments (c. 60% of all respired carbon). But, continuous light slowed the turnover (+270%) and increased the size (+160%) of the store relative to the 16 : 8 h day : night regime. This effect corresponded with a greatly elevated fructan content. Yet, day length had no effect on sizes and half-lives of other pools serving respiration. We suggest that the residence time of respiratory carbon was strongly influenced by partitioning of carbon to fructan stores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant respiration draws on substrate pools of different functional/biochemical identity. Little is known about the effect of nitrogen deficiency on those pools' sizes, half-lives and relative contribution to respiration, and consequently, of carbon residence time in respiratory metabolism. Here we studied how nitrogen fertilization affects the respiratory carbon supply system of shoots and roots of Lolium perenne, a perennial grass. Plants grown at two nitrogen supply levels in continuous light were labelled with 13CO2/12CO2 for intervals ranging from 1 h to 1 month. The rate and isotopic composition of shoot, root and plant respiration were measured, and the time-courses of tracer incorporation into respired CO2 were analysed by compartmental modelling. Nitrogen deficiency reduced specific respiration rate by 30%, but increased the size of the respiratory supply system by 30%. In consequence, mean residence time of respiratory carbon increased with nitrogen deficiency (4.6 d at high nitrogen and 9.2 d at low nitrogen supply). To a large extent, this was due to a greater involvement of stores with a long half-life in respiratory carbon metabolism of nitrogen-deficient plants. At both nitrogen supply levels, stores supplying root respiration were primarily located in the shoot, probably in the form of fructans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The substrate supply system for respiration of the shoot and root of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was characterized in terms of component pools and the pools' functional properties: size, half-life, and contribution to respiration of the root and shoot. These investigations were performed with perennial ryegrass growing in constant conditions with continuous light. Plants were labeled with 13CO2/12CO2 for periods ranging from 1 to 600 h, followed by measurements of the rates and 13C/12C ratios of CO2 respired by shoots and roots in the dark. Label appearance in roots was delayed by approximately 1 h relative to shoots; otherwise, the tracer time course was very similar in both organs. Compartmental analysis of respiratory tracer kinetics indicated that, in both organs, three pools supplied 95% of all respired carbon (a very slow pool whose kinetics could not be characterized provided the remaining 5%). The pools' half-lives and relative sizes were also nearly identical in shoot and root (half-life < 15 min, approximately 3 h, and 33 h). An important role of short-term storage in supplying respiration was apparent in both organs: only 43% of respiration was supplied by current photosynthate (fixed carbon transferred directly to centers of respiration via the two fastest pools). The residence time of carbon in the respiratory supply system was practically the same in shoot and root. From this and other evidence, we argue that both organs were supplied by the same pools and that the residence time was controlled by the shoot via current photosynthate and storage deposition/mobilization fluxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]