Author:
Ziska Lewis H.,Caulfield Frances A.
Abstract
Although environmental factors such as precipitation and temperature are
recognized as influencing pollen production, the impact of rising atmospheric
carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) on the
potential growth and pollen production of hay-fever-inducing plants is
unknown. Here we present measurements of growth and pollen production of
common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) from
pre-industrial [CO2] (280 mol
mol–1) to current concentrations (370 mol
mol–1) to a projected 21st century concentration
(600 mol mol–1). We found that exposure to current
and elevated [CO2] increased ragweed pollen
production by 131 and 320%, respectively, compared to plants grown at
pre-industrial [CO2]. The observed
stimulations of pollen production from the pre-industrial
[CO2] were due to an increase in the number
(at 370 mol mol–1) and number and size (at 600 mol
mol–1) of floral spikes. Overall, floral weight as
a percentage of total plant weight decreased (from 21% to 13%),
while investment in pollen increased (from 3.6 to 6%) between 280 and
600 mol mol–1 CO2. Our
results suggest that the continuing increase in atmospheric
[CO2] could directly influence public health
by stimulating the growth and pollen production of allergy-inducing species
such as ragweed.
Subject
Plant Science,Agronomy and Crop Science
Cited by
55 articles.
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