Plant Diversity ›› 2020, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (01): 44-51.DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2019.09.004

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Impacts of CO2 elevation on the physiology and seed quality of soybean

Guowei Zhenga, Jia Chenc, Weiqi Lib   

  1. a College of Chinese Material Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China;
    b Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China;
    c Yunnan Key Laboratory of Dai and Yi Medicines, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
  • Received:2019-03-22 Revised:2019-08-12 Online:2020-02-25 Published:2020-02-29
  • Contact: Weiqi Li
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the High Level Talents Project of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine (2019YZG07), Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Science Research Funding (2018JS290), the Yunnan Applied Basic Research Project (2016FA042, 2017FB057 and 2015FB171), Discipline funding of School of Chinese Material Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine (2019ZY014), grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31600215, 31401313), and by Joint Special Funds for Basic Research of Yunnan Local College. We thank Dr. Shihong Luo for help with the analysis of the isoflavones and tocopherols. We also thank Zhen Yu for assistance with the GCeMS analysis.

Abstract: Understanding the responses of crops to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (E[CO2]) is very important in terms of global food supplies. The present study investigates the effects of CO2 enrichment (to 800 μmol mol-1) on the physiology of soybean plants and the nutritional value of their seeds under growth chamber conditions. The photosynthesis of soybean was significantly promoted by E [CO2] at all growth stages, but leaf area and specific leaf weight were not affected. The levels of mineral elements in the leaves decreased under E[CO2]. The soil properties after soybean cultivation under E[CO2] were not affected, except for a decrease in available potassium. Moreover, the levels of soluble sugars in the seeds were not affected by E[CO2], but the levels of natural antioxidants decreased. In addition, the level of oleic acid decreased under E[CO2]. However, levels of fatty acid peroxidation and saturation were maintained. In conclusion, E[CO2] appears to have positive effects on the growth of cultivated soybean plants, but its influence on the nutritional values of soybean seeds is complex.

Key words: CO2 elevation, Isoflavone, Tocopherol, Fatty acid, Mineral element