Impact of elevated CO2 concentration on ultrastructure of pericarp and composition of grain in three Triticum species of different ploidy levels

Triticum species of three ploidies were grown under ambient (375 mu l/l) or elevated (FACE, 550 mu l/l) CO2 concentration [CO2] to evaluate their response to CO2 enrichment. The consistent effect of elevated CO2 was an increase in concentration of starch and decrease in concentration of protein in the grain. Transmission electron micrographs revealed an increase in width and area of chloroplasts, and change in shape from elliptical in ambient to round in elevated [CO2]. There was a corresponding increase in starch grain size and number in chloroplasts. The large starch grains distributed among thylakoids resulted in separation and distortion of internal membrane system in chloroplasts. The level of response was different in species of different ploidy levels. Maximum increase in starch concentration, and least decrease in protein concentration, was observed in Triticum dicoccoides, which also proved the most suitable species in terms of C:N ratio. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.