Physiological and Proteomic Evidence for the Interactive Effects of Post-Anthesis Heat Stress and Elevated CO2 on Wheat

Elevated CO2 promotes leaf photosynthesis and improves crop grain yield. However, as a major anthropogenic greenhouse gas, CO2 contributes to more frequent and severe heat stress, which threatens crop productivity. The combined effects of elevated CO2 and heat stress are complex, and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In the present study, the effects of elevated CO2 and high-temperature on foliar physiological traits and the proteome of spring wheat grown under two CO2 concentrations (380 and 550 mu mol mol(-1)) and two temperature conditions (ambient and post-anthesis heat stress) are examined. Elevated CO2 increases leaf photosynthetic traits, biomass, and grain yield, while heat stress depresses photosynthesis and yield. Temperature-induced impacts on chlorophyll content and grain yield are not significantly different under the two CO2 concentrations. Analysis of the leaf proteome reveals that proteins involved in photosynthesis as well as antioxidant and protein synthesis pathways are significantly downregulated-due to the combination of elevated CO2 and heat stress. Correspondingly, plants treated with elevated CO2 and heat stress exhibit decreased green leaf area, photosynthetic rate, antioxidant enzyme activities, and 1000-kernel weight. The present study demonstrates that future post-anthesis heat episodes will diminish the positive effects of elevated CO2 and negatively impact wheat production.