Above- and below-ground responses of Calamagrostis purpurea to UV-B radiation and elevated CO2 under phosphorus limitation

UV-B radiation and elevated CO2 may impact rhizosphere processes through altered below-ground plant resource allocation and root exudation, changes that may have implications for nutrient acquisition. As nutrients limit plant growth in many habitats, their supply may dictate plant response under elevated CO2. This study investigated UV-B exposure and elevated CO2 effects, including interactions, on plant growth, tissue chemistry and rooting responses relating to P acquisition. The sub-arctic grass Calamagrostis purpurea was subjected to UV-B (0 or 3.04 kJ m−2day−1) and CO2 (ambient 380 or 650 ppmv) treatments in a factorial glasshouse experiment, with sparingly soluble P (0 or 0.152 mg P per plant as FePO4) a further factor. It was hypothesized that UV-B exposure and elevated CO2 would change plant resource allocation, with CO2 mitigating adverse responses to UV-B exposure and aiding P uptake. Plant biomass and morphology, tissue composition and rhizosphere leachate properties were measured. UV-B directly affected chemical composition of shoots and interacted with CO2 to give a greater root biomass. Elevated CO2 altered the composition of both shoots and roots and increased shoot biomass and secondary root length, while leachate pH decreased. Below-ground responses to CO2 did not affect P acquisition although P limitation progressively reduced leachate pH and increased secondary root length. Although direct plant growth, foliar composition and below-ground nutrient acquisition responses were dominated by CO2 treatments, UV-B modified these CO2 responses significantly. These interactions have implications for plant responses to future atmospheric conditions.