| Hazards of Temperature on Food Availability in Changing Environments (HOT-FACE) |
by Leon Allen Jr.
Global
temperatures are predicted to increase from rising
levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse
gases. We conducted experiments in sunlit, controlled-environment chambers and
temperature-gradient greenhouses to determine effects of elevated temperature
and doubled CO2 concentration on pollination and yield of rice,
soybean, dry bean, peanut, and grain sorghum. Photosynthesis and vegetative
growth were more tolerant of increasing temperatures than reproductive
processes. Rice seed yields were optimum at 25°C mean daily temperature and
decreased with increasing temperature (typically about 10% decline for each 1°C
rise in temperature). Grain sorghum yield response to temperature was similar to
rice, but dry bean was more sensitive, and soybean and peanut were more
tolerant. Pollen viability followed a temperature response similar to seed
yield. Comparisons of 43 rice cultivars in temperature-gradient greenhouses
showed genetic variation in percent seed-set in response to a 4.5°C increase
above ambient temperatures in Florida.
Thus, there appears to be a range of adaptation of seed crops to temperature.
Elevated CO2 did not prevent high temperature decline in yield; in
dry bean it made pollination more sensitive to high temperature. In summary, global
warming will be a greater threat to crop seed yields than to photosynthesis and
vegetative growth. However, crop genetic improvements might ameliorate part,
but not all, of the high temperature hazards for seed yields and global food
security.
Link to Abstract
Link to Slides
|
|
|
|
| |
Login | |
Related Links | |
Options | |
|