Contrasting effects of Miocene and Anthropocene levels of atmospheric CO₂ on silicon accumulation in a model grass.

ABSTRACT: Grasses are hyper-accumulators of silicon (Si), which they acquire from the soil and deposit in tissues to resist environmental stresses. Given the high metabolic costs of herbivore defensive chemicals and structural constituents (e.g. cellulose), grasses may substitute Si for these components when carbon is limited. Indeed, high Si uptake grasses evolved in the Miocene when atmospheric CO₂ concentration was much lower than present levels. It is, however, unknown how pre-industrial CO₂ concentrations affect Si accumulation in grasses. Using Brachypodium distachyon, we hydroponically manipulated Si-supply (0.0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mM) and grew plants under Miocene (200 ppm) and Anthropocene levels of CO₂ comprising ambient (410 ppm) and elevated (640 ppm)

SUBMITTER: Biru FN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7728683 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature