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Research Project: GLOBAL CHANGE AND BELOWGROUND PROCESSES IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

Location: National Soil Dynamics Laboratory

Title: Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinenese) in an Elevated CO2 Environment

Authors

Submitted to: Botany Research Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 1, 2008
Publication Date: June 21, 2008
Citation: Smith, K.E., Runion, G.B., Prior, S.A., Price, A.J., Rogers Jr, H.H., Torbert III, H.A. 2008. Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinenese) in an Elevated CO2 Environment. Botany Research Journal. 1:43-48.

Interpretive Summary: Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense Lour.) is an invasive weed currently threatening ecosystems in the southeastern United States and along its eastern seaboard. Control of this weed has generally been most effective if caught early enough to pull or dig out seedlings, meaning that effective control is done with young or immature plants. Chinese privet, produced from seed, were grown at either 375 µmol mol-1 (ambient) or 575 µmol mol-1 (elevated) CO2 in open top field chambers. Chinese privet seedlings grown under high CO2 had greater numbers of branches and tended to have larger diameters and greater total root length. Increases in component part dry weights under elevated CO2 resulted in significantly greater total plant biomass (42%). Root dry weight was significantly greater under CO2 enriched conditions (44%); however, CO2 did not effect root to shoot ratio nor allocation of biomass among plant organs. These finding indicate that Chinese privet will become a more troublesome weed as atmospheric CO2 concentration continues to rise and suggests that early control may become an even more important issue.

Technical Abstract: Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense Lour.) is an invasive weed currently threatening ecosystems in the southeastern United States and along its eastern seaboard. Control of this weed has generally been most effective if caught early enough to pull or dig out seedlings, meaning that effective control is done with young or immature plants. Chinese privet, produced from seed, were grown at either 375 µmol mol-1 (ambient) or 575 µmol mol-1 (elevated) CO2 in open top field chambers. Chinese privet seedlings grown under high CO2 had greater numbers of branches and tended to have larger diameters and greater total root length. Increases in component part dry weights under elevated CO2 resulted in significantly greater total plant biomass (42%). Root dry weight was significantly greater under CO2 enriched conditions (44%); however, CO2 did not effect root to shoot ratio nor allocation of biomass among plant organs. These finding indicate that Chinese privet will become a more troublesome weed as atmospheric CO2 concentration continues to rise and suggests that early control may become an even more important issue.

   

 
Project Team
Prior, Stephen - Steve
Runion, George
Torbert, Henry - Allen
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Global Change (204)
  Soil Resource Management (202)
 
 
Last Modified: 05/24/2013
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