biostudies-literatureUnknown7Olive IOcean acidification is a major threat for marine life but seagrasses are expected to benefit from high CO₂. In situ (long-term) and transplanted (short-term) plant incubations of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa were performed near and away the influence of volcanic CO₂ vents at Vulcano Island to test the hypothesis of beneficial effects of CO₂ on plant productivity. We relate, for the first time, the expression of photosynthetic, antioxidant and metal detoxification-related genes to net plant productivity (NPP). Results revealed a consistent pattern between gene expression and productivity indicating water origin as the main source of variability. However, the hypothesised beneficial effect of high CO₂ around vents was not supported. We observed a Scientific reports42278https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5304229biostudies-literatureLinking gene expression to productivity to unravel long- and short-term responses of seagrasses exposed to CO₂ in volcanic vents.PMC5304229Silva JProcaccini GOlive ICosta MMSantos RRuocco MLauritano CfalseLinking gene expression to productivity to unravel long- and short-term responses of seagrasses exposed to CO₂ in volcanic vents.Ocean acidification is a major threat for marine life but seagrasses are expected to benefit from high CO₂. In situ (long-term) and transplanted (short-term) plant incubations of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa were performed near and away the influence of volcanic CO₂ vents at Vulcano Island to test the hypothesis of beneficial effects of CO₂ on plant productivity. We relate, for the first time, the expression of photosynthetic, antioxidant and metal detoxification-related genes to net plant productivity (NPP). Results revealed a consistent pattern between gene expression and productivity indicating water origin as the main source of variability. However, the hypothesised beneficial effect of high CO₂ around vents was not supported. We observed a 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Feb2026-05-04T12:19:09.669Z2019-03-27T02:36:21ZS-EPMC53042292820556610.1038/srep42278