Alteration in biochemical constituents and nutrients partitioning of Asparagus racemosus in response to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration

Understanding the response of medicinal plants to elevated CO2 concentrations is crucial to evaluate the climate change impacts on medicinal plant's productivity together with the accumulation of biochemical constituents counting nutrients wealth. The present study investigated the effect of elevated CO2 concentrations (ambient-similar to 400 +/- 4, 600 +/- 12, and 800 +/- 16 mu mol CO2 mol(-1)) on the biochemical constituents (viz. chlorophyll, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, protein, total sugars, and carbon partitioning) and accumulation of mineral nutrients (viz. potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium) in different plant parts (viz. leaf, stem, and root) of Asparagus racemosus Willd., an endangered medicinal plant species. The results confirmed that the elevated CO2 concentration significantly (p <= 0.05) enhanced the leaves biochemical constituents, viz. chlorophyll, protein, total sugars, and carbon content while conversely diminishes the ascorbic acid content in leaf. The accumulation of nutrients especially potassium and magnesium were significantly (p <= 0.05) improved while it is reverse in case of phosphorus under the elevated CO2 concentration. Moreover, elevated CO2 notably altered protein, sugars, carbon, and nutrients partitioning in leaf, stem, and root tissues. This study will be helpful in anticipating the effect of rising atmospheric CO2 concentration on medicinal and threatened plants and require further intensive studies to comprehend the effects of elevated CO2 concentration.