Impact of Elevated CO2 and Elevated O3 on Beta Vulgaris L.: Pigments, Metabolites, Antioxidants, Growth and Yield

The present study was conducted to assess morphological, biochemical and yield responses of palak (Beta vulgaris L. cv Allgreen) to ambient and elevated levels of CO(2) and O(3), alone and in combination. As compared to the plants grown in charcoal filtered air (ACO(2)), growth and yield of the plants increased under elevated CO(2) (ECO(2)) and decreased under combination of ECO(2) with elevated O(3) (ECO(2) + EO(3)), ambient O(3) (ACO(2) + AO(3)) and elevated O(3) (EO(3)). Lipid peroxidation, ascorbic acid, catalase and glutathione reductase activities enhanced under all treatments and were highest in EO(3.) Foliar starch and organic carbon contents increased under ECO(2) and ECO(2) + EO(3) and reduced under EO(3) and ACO(2) + AO(3.) Foliar N content declined in all treatments compared to ACO(2) resulting in alteration of C/N ratio. This study concludes that ambient level of CO(2) is not enough to counteract O(3) impact, but elevated CO(2) has potential to counteract the negative effects of future O(3) level.