Moderate heat stress prevented the observed biomass and yield stimulation caused by elevated CO 2 in two well-watered wheat cultivars

Key message Heat stress (HS) under well-watered conditions was not detrimental to leaf photosynthesis or yield but modified the elevated CO 2 response of photosynthesis and yield in two contrasting wheat cultivars. Abstract Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme events such as heat waves, adversely affecting crop productivity. While positive impacts of elevated carbon dioxide (eCO 2 ) on crop productivity are evident, the interactive effects of eCO 2 and environmental stresses are still unclear. To investigate the interactive effects of elevated CO 2 and heat stress (HS), we grew two contrasting wheat cultivars, early-maturing Scout and high-tillering Yitpi, under non-limiting water and nutrients at ambient (aCO 2 , 450 ppm) or elevated (eCO 2 , 650 ppm) CO 2 and 22 °C in the glasshouse. Plants were exposed to two 3-day HS cycles at the vegetative (38.1 °C) and/or flowering (33.5 °C) stage. At aCO 2 , both wheat cultivars showed similar responses of photosynthesis and mesophyll conductance to temperature and produced similar grain yield. Relative to aCO 2 , eCO 2 enhanced photosynthesis rate and reduced stomatal conductance and maximal carboxylation rate ( V cmax ). During HS, high temperature stimulated photosynthesis at eCO 2 in both cultivars, while eCO 2 stimulated photosynthesis in Scout. Electron transport rate ( J max ) was unaffected by any treatment. eCO 2 equally enhanced biomass and grain yield of both cultivars in control, but not HS, plants. HS reduced biomass and yield of Scout at eCO 2 . Yitpi, the cultivar with higher grain nitrogen, underwent a trade-off between grain yield and nitrogen. In conclusion, eCO 2 improved photosynthesis of control and HS wheat, and improved biomass and grain yield of control plants only. Under well-watered conditions, HS was not detrimental to photosynthesis or growth but precluded a yield response to eCO 2 .