Evaluation of the effects of elevated CO2 concentrations on the growth of cassava storage roots by destructive harvests and ground penetrating radar scanning approaches

• Published in: Plant, cell and environment cell and environment, 2023-01, Vol.46 (1), p.93-105
• Main Authors: Ruiz‐Vera, Ursula M., Balikian, Riley, Larson, Timothy H., Ort, Donald R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomass; bulking rate; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide concentration; Cassava; cassava storage roots; CO2; Cultivars; elevated CO2; Ground penetrating radar; Growing season; growth; Manihot esculenta; Moisture content; Nondestructive testing; Original; Plant growth; Radar; Radar scanning; Root development; Roots; storage carbohydrates; Water content
• ISSN: 0140-7791; 1365-3040
• DOI: 10.1111/pce.14474

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) production will need to be improved to meet future food demands in Sub‐Saharan Africa. The selection of high‐yielding cassava cultivars requires a better understanding of storage root development. Additionally, since future production will happen under increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations ([CO2]), cultivar selection should include responsiveness to elevated [CO2]. Five farmer‐preferred African cassava cultivars were grown for three and a half months in a Free Air CO2 Enrichment experiment in central Illinois. Compared to ambient [CO2] (~400 ppm), cassava storage roots grown under elevated [CO2] (~600 ppm) had a higher biomass with some cultivars having lower storage root water content. The elevated [CO2] stimulation in storage root biomass ranged from 33% to 86% across the five cultivars tested documenting the importance of this trait in developing new cultivars. In addition to the destructive harvests to obtain storage root parameters, we explored ground penetrating radar as a nondestructive method to determine storage root growth across the growing season. Summary statement Elevated [CO2] stimulated storage roots biomass early in their development and decreased their water content. This decrease in the water content impacted the radar signal from the roots when the ground‐penetrating radar was tested for in‐field storage root monitoring.