Short-term growth of meadow fescue with atmospheric CO2 enrichment decreases freezing tolerance, modifies photosynthetic apparatus performance and changes the expression of some genes during cold acclimation

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of an elevated atmospheric CO2 molar ratio on freezing tolerance, photosynthetic apparatus performance and expression of CBF6, Cor14b and LOS2 in meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.). It was shown that cold acclimation under a CO2 molar ratio of 800 mu mol mol(air)(-1) decreased the freezing tolerance of meadow fescue when compared to the ambient CO2 level. This effect was not related either to changes observed in PSII redox state or to photosynthetic acclimation to cold, which was in fact more effective at an elevated CO2 level. The decrease in freezing tolerance was linked to changes in the expression of CBF6 and LOS2 genes, whereas the protective effect on photosynthetic apparatus was connected with the activation of a non-photochemical mechanism of photoprotection as well as upregulation of FpCOR14b expression.