Cladode Development for Opuntia ficus-indica (Cactaceae) Under Current and Doubled CO2Concentrations

• Published in: American journal of botany 1995-02, Vol.82 (2), p.159-166
• Main Authors: North, Gretchen B., Moore, T. Lin, Nobel, Park S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal cuticle; Cactus; Carbon dioxide; Chlorenchyma; Cladodes; Epicuticular wax; Epidermal cells; Physiology, Biochemistry, and Cell Biology; Plant cuticle; Plant growth; Plants
• ISSN: 0002-9122; 1537-2197

Morphological and anatomical changes for first-order daughter cladodes (flattened stem segments) of a prickly pear cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica, were monitored to determine the effects of a doubled atmospheric CO2concentration on their development and mature form. For daughter cladodes developing in controlled environment chambers for 60 d, maximal elongation rates were similar under a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 6 mol m-2d-1and a CO2concentration of 370 μl liter-1, an increased PPFD (10 mol m-2d-1), and an increased PPFD and a doubled CO2concentration. These maximal rates, however, occurred at 20, 15, and 12 d, respectively. The maximal relative growth rate under the doubled CO2concentration was about twice that under the other conditions. For cladodes at 60 d as well as after 4 and 16 mo in open-top chambers, doubling the CO2concentration had no effect on final length or width. At 4 mo, cladodes under doubled CO2were 27% thicker, perhaps allowing the earlier production of second-order daughter cladodes. The chlorenchyma was then 31% thicker and composed of longer cells. At 16 mo, the difference in cladode thickness diminished, but the chlorenchyma remained thicker under doubled CO2, which may contribute to greater net CO2uptake for O. ficus-indica under elevated CO2concentrations. Two other persistent differences were a 20% lower stomatal frequency and a 30% thicker cuticle with more epicuticular wax for cladodes under doubled CO2, both of which may help reduce transpirational water loss.