TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effects of Elevated Atmospheric CO<SUB>2</SUB> on a C<SUB>3</SUB> and a C<SUB>4</SUB> Invasive Weed
AU - , G.B. Runion AU - , A.J. Price AU - , S.A. Prior AU - , H.H. Rogers AU - , H.A. Torbert AU - , D.H. Gjerstad 
JO  - Botany Research Journal
VL  - 1
IS  - 3
SP  - 56
EP  - 62
PY  - 2008
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1995-4751
DO  - brj.2008.56.62
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=brj.2008.56.62
KW  - Carbon dioxide
KW  -Cassia obtusifolia
KW  -invasive weeds
KW  -johnsongrass
KW  -sicklepod
KW  -Sorghum halepense
AB  - Invasive plants are a major threat to the earth’s biodiversity and cost U.S. producers $34 billion annually. Understanding how increased atmospheric CO<SUB>2</SUB> may alter establishment, spread and control of invasive weeds is crucial to future management strategies. Here we report on the effects of elevated CO<SUB>2</SUB> on growth of 2 invasive weeds important to Southeastern U.S. agriculture. Sicklepod (<I>Cassia obtusifolia</I> L.; C<SUB>3</SUB> legume) and Johnsongrass (<I>Sorghum halepense</I> (L.) Pers.; C<SUB>4</SUB> grass) were grown at either 375 µmol mol<SUP>-1</SUP> (ambient) or 575 µmol mol<SUP>-1</SUP> (elevated) CO<SUB>2</SUB> in open top field chambers. Photosynthesis, morphology and biomass were assessed. Growth in elevated CO<SUB>2</SUB> increased photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency for both species. While both species increased leaf and stem dry weights when grown under elevated CO<SUB>2</SUB>, the sicklepod tended to be more responsive than was Johnsongrass. Both plants tended to partition less total dry weight to reproductive structures when grown under high CO<SUB>2</SUB>. This study suggests that while both weeds are likely to increase in importance, sicklepod may be more of a problem than Johnsongrass in a future CO<SUB>2</SUB>-enriched world; this prediction may change if reproductive success is negatively impacted by elevated CO<SUB>2</SUB> and this potential deserves further investigation.
ER  -