High nitrogen and elevated [CO2] effects on the growth, defense and photosynthetic performance of two eucalypt species

Abstract

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition and [CO(2)] are increasing and represent environmental problems. Planting fast-growing species is prospering to moderate these environmental impacts by fixing CO(2). Therefore, we examined the responses of growth, photosynthesis, and defense chemical in leaves of Eucalyptus urophylla (U) and the hybrid of E. deglupta × E. camadulensis (H) to different CO(2) and nitrogen levels. High nitrogen load significantly increased plant growth, leaf N, net photosynthetic rate (A(growth)), and photosynthetic water use efficiency (WUE). High CO(2) significantly increased A(growth), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) and WUE. Secondary metabolite (SM, i.e. total phenolics and condensed tannin) was specifically altered; as SM of U increased by high N load but not by elevated [CO(2)], and vice versa for SM of H.