Sugarcane and climate changes: effects of 'CO IND. 2 enrichment atmosphere in growth, development and carbohydrate metabolism in Saccharum ss

Author(s)

Amanda Pereira de Souza

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia
• Defense date: 2007-04-20

Examining board members

Marcos Silveira Buckeridge; Weber Antonio Neves do Amaral; Carlos Alberto Labate

• Advisor: Marcos Silveira Buckeridge; Marilia Gaspar

Abstract

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere increased about 30% and the current forecasts point out that this concentration will reach approximately 720 ppm until the middle of this century. Studies about the effect of CO2 on the development of several plant species have been performed. However, few studies have been performed with tropical grass species having photosynthesis C4, as is the case of sugar cane. Due to the economic importance of sugar cane and its high potential to obtain biofuel, it is important to known how this crop will respond to the forecasted increase in the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Therefore, the goal of this work was to study the effects of increased CO2 concentration on growth, development and carbohydrate metabolism of sugar cane aiming the evaluation of the potential of this specie for carbon sequestration and the impact of the global climatic change on its productivity. Physiological, biochemical and molecular features of these plants have been analyzed during 50 weeks of growth in Open-Top-Chambers (OTCs) with ambient (~370 ppm) and elevated (~720 ppm) CO2 concentrations. After 50 weeks of growth under these conditions, we observed an increase of sucrose content, fiber an also in cellulose contents in stems of plants grown under elevated CO2. The microarray analysis of the transcriptome of leaves was obtained after 9 and 22 weeks and revealed differential expression of 37 genes. Fourteen genes were repressed and 23 induced by elevated CO2. The latter correspond mainly to the processes of photosynthesis and development. Our results indicate that the sugar cane crop has a high potential for carbon sequestration and increase of productivity under elevated CO2 concentrations (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 04/11421-8 - Study of the effects in the short and long term of a CO2 enriched atmosphere on the growth, development and metabolism of carbohydrates of sugarcane (Saccharum ssp.)
• Grantee: Amanda Pereira de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master