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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #188843
Title: EFFECTS OF ELEVATED ATMOSPHERIC CO2 ON TROPICAL SPIDERWORT

Author
item Price, Andrew
item Prior, Stephen - Steve
item Runion, George
item STOLL, MARIA - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item VAN SANTEN, EDZARD - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Rogers Jr, Hugo
item GJERSTAD, DEAN - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Torbert, Henry - Allen

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2005
Publication Date: 11/29/2005
Citation: Price, A.J., Prior, S.A., Runion, G.B., Stoll, M.E., Van Santen, E., Rogers Jr, H.H., Gjerstad, D.H., Torbert III, H.A. 2006. Effects of elevated atmospheric co2 on tropical spiderwort [abstract]. Symposium on Tropical Spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis): An Exotic Invasive Weed in the Southeast U.S.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tropical spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis L.) is considered an invasive noxious weed and is becoming more of a problem in agricultural settings of the southeastern US. One neglected aspect of global change is the consideration of how invasive plants might react to the increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. This recently funded National Institute for Global Environmental Change (Southeast Regional Center) research project evaluates tropical spiderwort responses to CO2 enrichment. Tropical spiderwort was grown under ambient and elevated levels of CO2. Under elevated CO2 conditions, plant organ parts exhibited significant increases in dry weight (leaf, 36%; flower, 30%; stem, 48%) and the overall increase in total aboveground biomass was 44%. Total stem length was unaffected by CO2 level while total leaf number and total flower number showed trends for increase (~20%) due to additional CO2. The strong growth response of tropical spiderwort suggest that its competitive ability with native plants will be enhanced in a future high CO2 environment.