Blue light-dependent phosphorylations of cryptochromes are affected by magnetic fields in Arabidopsis

The blue light receptor cryptochrome that could form radical pairs after exposure to blue light was suggested to be a magnetoreceptor based on the proposition that radical pairs were involved in the magnetoreception. But the effects of magnetic fields on the function of cryptochrome are poorly understood. Phosphorylation of cryptochrome in Arabidopsis was closely associated with the function of this photoreceptor. Here, we grew Arabidopsis seedlings in a 500 μT magnetic field and a near-null magnetic field and found that the 500 μT magnetic field enhanced the blue light-dependent phosphorylations of CRY1 and CRY2, and the near-null magnetic field weakened the blue light-dependent phosphorylation of CRY2 but not CRY1. Dephosphorylations of CRY1 and CRY2 in the darkness were slowed down in the 500 μT magnetic field, whereas dephosphorylations of CRY1 and CRY2 were accelerated in the near-null magnetic field. These results suggest that magnetic field with strength higher or weaker than the local geomagnetic field affects the activated states of cryptochromes, which thus modifies the functions of cryptochromes.     

Antioxidant capacity reduced in scallions grown under elevated CO2 independent of assayed light intensity

Long-duration manned space missions mandate the development of a sustainable life support system and effective countermeasures against damaging space radiation. To mitigate the risk of inevitable exposure to space radiation, cultivation of fresh fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants is an attractive alternative to pharmacological agents. However it has yet to be established whether antioxidant properties of crops can be preserved or enhanced in a space environment where environmental conditions differ from that which plants have acclimated to on earth. Scallion (Allium fistulosum) rich in antioxidant vitamins C and A, and flavonoids was used as a model plant to study the impact of a range of CO₂ concentrations and light intensities that are likely encountered in a space habitat on food quality traits. Scallions were hydroponically grown in controlled environmental chambers under a combination of 3 CO₂ concentrations of 400, 1200 and 4000 μmol mol⁻¹ and 3 light intensity levels of 150, 300, 450 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Total antioxidant activity (TAA) of scallion extracts was determined using a radical cation scavenging assay. Both elevated CO₂ and increasing light intensity enhanced biomass accumulation, but effects on TAA (based on dry weight) differed. TAA was reduced for plants grown under elevated CO₂, but remained unchanged with increases in light intensity. Elevated CO₂ stimulated greater biomass production than antioxidants, while an increase in photosynthetic photo flux promoted the synthesis of antioxidant compounds at a rate similar to that of biomass. Consequently light is a more effective stimulus than CO₂ for antioxidant production.     

Contribution of geometry of interaction between interplanetary and terrestrial magnetic fields into global magnetospheric state and geomagnetic activity

The paper presents results of our study of dependence of geomagnetic activity from geoeffective parameters taking into account mutual orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field, electric field of the solar wind and geomagnetic moment. We attract a reconnection model elaborated by us made allowance for changes of geometry of the solar wind–magnetosphere interaction during annual and diurnal motions of the Earth. We take as our data base the interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind velocity measured at 1 a.u. at ecliptic plane for the period of 1963–2005 and K_p, D_st, a_m indices. Taken as a whole a geoeffective parameter suggested by us explains 95% of observed variations of the indices. Changes of the geometric factor determined by mutual orientation of the solar wind electric field and geomagnetic moment explain larger than 75% of observed statistical variations of D_st and a_m indices. Based on our results we suggest a new explanation of semi-annual and UT variation of geomagnetic activity.     

Effects of different carbon dioxide and LED lighting levels on the anti-oxidative capabilities of Gynura bicolor DC

Gynura bicolor DC is not only an edible plant but also a kind of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. G. bicolor DC grown in controlled environmental chambers under 3 CO₂ concentrations [450 (ambient), 1500 (elevated), 8000 (super-elevated) μmol mol⁻¹] and 3 LED lighting conditions [white (WL), 85% red + 15% blue (RB15), 70% red + 30% blue (RB30) ] were investigated to reveal plausible antioxidant anabolic responses to CO₂ enrichment and LED light quality. Under ambient and elevated CO₂ levels, blue light increasing from 15% to 30% was conducive to the accumulation of anthocyanins and total flavonoids, and the antioxidant activity of extract was also increased, but plant biomass was decreased. These results demonstrated that the reinforcement of blue light could induce more antioxidant of secondary metabolites, but depress the effective growth of G. bicolor DC under ambient and elevated CO₂ levels. In addition, compared with the ambient and elevated CO₂ levels, the increased anthocyanins, total flavonoids contents and antioxidant enzyme activities of G. bicolor DC under super-elevated CO₂ level could serve as important components of antioxidative defense mechanism against CO₂ stress. Hence, G. bicolor DC might have higher tolerance to CO₂ stress.     

Community metabolism of aquatic Closed Ecological Systems: Effects of nitrogen sources

To investigate the effect of nitrogen sources on Closed Ecological Systems (CESs), three nitrogen sources (NaNO₃, sodium nitrate; NH₄Cl, ammonium chloride; and NH₄NO₃, ammonium nitrate) were each tested in freshwater CESs consisting of a chemically defined medium, three species of green algae (Ankistrodesmus, Scenedesmus, and Selenastrum), the grazer Daphnia magna, and associated microbes, under 12 h light/12 h dark cycles. It had been hypothesized that the development of high pH in earlier CESs was the result of nitrate utilization, and that ammonium might result in acid conditions, while ammonium nitrate might result in more moderate pH. The three nitrogen sources supported similar densities of algae (estimated by in vivo fluorescence) and similar Daphnia populations. The experiments showed that pH levels rapidly increased when grazers were absent or at low abundances irrespective of the nitrogen source. Consequently, it is hypothesized that carbon cycles, rather than nitrogen sources, are responsible for the pH dynamics. Oxygen diurnal (light:dark) cycles tended to come into balance more quickly than pH. It may be more feasible to convert O₂ data to energy units (using “oxycalorific” values) than CO₂ data since CO₂ dynamics may include other chemical reactions than just photosynthesis and respiration. The feasibility of sustaining grazer populations for at least several weeks in small, simple CESs was demonstrated, along with the ability to monitor algae-grazer dynamics, and the recording of O₂ and pH measurements.     

An evaluation of the IRI-2007 storm time model at low latitude stations

This paper discusses the ability of the International Reference Ionosphere IRI-2007 storm time model to predict foF2 ionospheric parameter during geomagnetic storm periods. Experimental data (based on availability) from two low latitude stations: Vanimo (geographic coordinates, 2.7 °S, 141.3 °E, magnetic coordinates, 12.3 °S, 212.50 °E) and Darwin (geographic coordinates, 12.45 °S, 130.95 °E, magnetic coordinates, 22.9 °S, 202.7 °E) during nine storms that occurred in 2000 (Rz₁₂ = 119), 2001(Rz₁₂ = 111) and 2003 (Rz₁₂ = 64) are compared with those obtained by the IRI-2007 storm model. The results obtained show that the percentage deviation between the experimental and IRI predicted foF2 values during these storm periods is as high as 100% during the main and recovery phases. Based on the values of “relative deviation module mean” (RDMM) obtained (i.e. between 0.08 and 0.60), it is observed that there is a reasonable to poor agreement between measured foF2 values and the IRI-storm model prediction values during main and recovery phases of the storms under investigation. As a result, in addition to other studies that have been carried out from different sectors, more studies are required to be carried out. This will enable IRI community to improve on the present performance of the model. In general the IRI-storm model predictions follow normal trend of the foF2 measured values but does not reproduce well the measured values.     

Magnetotail current contribution to the Dst Index Using the MT Index and the WINDMI model

In this paper, we have improved the capabilities of a low dimensional nonlinear dynamical model called WINDMI to determine the state of the global magnetosphere by employing the magnetotail (MT) index as a measurement constraint during large geomagnetic storms. The MT index is derived from particle precipitation measurements made by the NOAA/POES satellites. This index indicates the location of the nightside ion isotropic boundary, which is then used as a proxy for the strength of the magnetotail current in the magnetosphere. In Asikainen et al. (2010), the contribution of the tail current to the Dst index is estimated from an empirical relationship based on the MT index. Here the WINDMI model is used as a substitute to arrive at the tail current and ring current contribution to the Dst index, for comparison purposes. We run the WINDMI model on 7 large geomagnetic storms, while optimizing the model state variables against the Dst index, the MT index, and the AL index simultaneously. Our results show that the contribution from the geotail current produced by the WINDMI model and the MT index are strongly correlated, except during some periods when storm time substorms are observed. The inclusion of the MT index as an optimization constraint in turn increases our confidence that the ring current contribution to the Dst index calculated by the WINDMI model is correct during large geomagnetic storms.     

Efficacy of oxygen-supplying capacity of Azolla in a controlled life support system

Azolla shows high growth and propagation rates, strong photosynthetic O₂-releasing ability and high nutritional value. It is suitable as a salad vegetable and can be cultured on a multi-layered wet bed. Hence, it possesses potential as a fresh vegetable, and to release O₂ and absorb CO₂ in a Controlled Ecological Life Support System in space. In this study, we investigated the O₂-providing characteristics of Azolla in a closed chamber under manned, controlled conditions to lay a foundation for use of Azolla as a biological component in ground simulation experiments for space applications. A closed test chamber, representing a Controlled Ecological Life Support System including an Azolla wet-culture device, was built to measure the changes in atmospheric O₂ and CO₂ concentrations inside the chamber in the presence of coexisting Azolla, fish and men. The amount of O₂ consumed by fish was 0.0805–0.0831 L kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ and the level of CO₂ emission was 0.0705–0.0736 L kg⁻¹ h⁻¹; O₂ consumption by the two trial volunteers was 19.71 L h⁻¹ and the volume of respiration-released CO₂ was 18.90 L h⁻¹. Under 7000–8000 Lx artificial light and Azolla wet-culture conditions, human and fish respiration and Azolla photosynthesis were complementary, thus the atmospheric O₂ and CO₂ concentrations inside chamber were maintained in equilibrium. The increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration in the closed chamber enhanced the net photosynthesis efficiency of the Azolla colony. This study showed that Azolla has strong photosynthetic O₂-releasing ability, which equilibrates the O₂ and CO₂ concentrations inside the chamber in favor of human survival and verifies the potential of Azolla for space applications.     

The solar wind control of the equatorial ionosphere dynamics during geomagnetic storms

The interplanetary magnetic field, geomagnetic variations, virtual ionosphere height h′F, and the critical frequency foF2 data during the geomagnetic storms are studied to demonstrate relationships between these phenomena. We study 5-min ionospheric variations using the first Western Pacific Ionosphere Campaign (1998–1999) observations, 5-min interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and 5-min auroral electrojets data during a moderate geomagnetic storm. These data allowed us to demonstrate that the auroral and the equatorial ionospheric phenomena are developed practically simultaneously. Hourly average of the ionospheric foF2 and h′F variations at near equatorial stations during a similar storm show the same behavior. We suppose this is due to interaction between electric fields of the auroral and the equatorial ionosphere during geomagnetic storms. It is shown that the low-latitude ionosphere dynamics during these moderate storms was defined by the southward direction of the B_z-component of the interplanetary magnetic field. A southward IMF produces the Region I and Region II field-aligned currents (FAC) and polar electrojet current systems. We assume that the short-term ionospheric variations during geomagnetic storms can be explained mainly by the electric field of the FAC. The electric fields of the field-aligned currents can penetrate throughout the mid-latitude ionosphere to the equator and may serve as a coupling agent between the auroral and the equatorial ionosphere.     

Influence of the interaction between light intensity and CO2 concentration on productivity and quality of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) grown in fully controlled environment

The effects of the factorial combination of two light intensities (200 and 800 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and two CO₂ concentrations (360 and 800 ppm) were studied on the productivity and nutritional quality of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) grown under controlled environment. After 6 weeks within a growth chamber, spinach plants were sampled and analyzed for productivity and quality. There were no statistically significant interactions between the effects of light and CO₂ for all of the variables studied, except for the nitrate and oxalic acid content of the leaves. High light and high CO₂ independently one from the other, promoted spinach productivity, and the accumulation of ascorbic acid, while their interactive effect limited the accumulation of nitrate and oxalic acid in the spinach leaves. The results highlight the importance of considering the effects of the interaction among environmental variables on maximizing production and the nutritional quality of the food when cultivating and modeling the plant response in controlled environment systems such as for bioregenerative life support.     

Physical implications of discrepancy between summer and winter PC indices observed in the course of magnetospheric substorms

The PC index based on a statistically justified relationship between the polar cap magnetic activity and the interplanetary electric field E_KL has been derived as a value standardized for the E_KL intensity regardless of season, UT and hemisphere. As a result, the summer and winter PC indices are consistent with one another under ordinary conditions. Discrepancies between the summer and winter PC indices arising in the course of magnetospheric substorms are analyzed in this paper. It is argued that the channel of enhanced conductivity, formed in the auroral oval owing to intense auroral particle precipitation, strongly improves the conditions for closure of the Region 1 field-aligned currents in the winter dark polar region but only trivially affects the conditions of the Region 1 FAC closure in the summer sunlit ionosphere. Since the coefficients describing the relationship between E_KL and the polar cap magnetic activity were derived for statistically justified (i.e., mean) conditions, their application to such abnormal situation, as intense field-aligned currents in the winter dark polar region, leads to overestimation of the winter PC index. The summer and winter PC indices level off as soon as the intense auroral particle precipitation terminates and the auroral ionosphere in the winter and summer polar caps returns to the ordinary (statistically justified) state.     

Cowpeas and pinto beans: Performance and yields of candidate space crops in the laboratory biosphere closed ecological system

An experiment utilizing cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L.), pinto beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and Apogee ultra-dwarf wheat (Triticum sativa L.) was conducted in the soil-based closed ecological facility, Laboratory Biosphere, from February to May 2005. The lighting regime was 13 h light/11 h dark at a light intensity of 960 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, 45 mol m⁻² day⁻¹ supplied by high-pressure sodium lamps. The pinto beans and cowpeas were grown at two different planting densities. Pinto bean production was 341.5 g dry seed m⁻² (5.42 g m⁻² day⁻¹) and 579.5 dry seed m⁻² (9.20 g m⁻² day⁻¹) at planted densities of 32.5 plants m⁻² and 37.5 plants m⁻², respectively. Cowpea yielded 187.9 g dry seed m⁻² (2.21 g m⁻² day⁻¹) and 348.8 dry seed m⁻² (4.10 g m⁻² day⁻¹) at planted densities of 20.8 plants m⁻² and 27.7 plants m⁻², respectively. The crop was grown at elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, with levels ranging from 300–3000 ppm daily during the majority of the crop cycle. During early stages (first 10 days) of the crop, CO₂ was allowed to rise to 7860 ppm while soil respiration dominated, and then was brought down by plant photosynthesis. CO₂ was injected 27 times during days 29–71 to replenish CO₂ used by the crop during photosynthesis. Temperature regime was 24–28 °C day/deg 20–24 °C night. Pinto bean matured and was harvested 20 days earlier than is typical for this variety, while the cowpea, which had trouble establishing, took 25 days more for harvest than typical for this variety. Productivity and atmospheric dynamic results of these studies contribute toward the design of an envisioned ground-based test bed prototype Mars base.     

Chlorella vulgaris culture as a regulator of CO2 in a bioregenerative life support system

It is the primary task for a bioregenerative life support system (BLSS) to maintain the stable concentrations of CO₂ and O₂. However, these concentrations could fluctuate based on various factors, such as the imbalance between respiration/assimilation quotients of the heterotrophic and autotrophic components. They can even be out of balance through catastrophic failure of higher plants in the emergency conditions. In this study, the feasibility of using unicellular Chlorella vulgaris of typically rapid growth as both “compensatory system” and “regulator” to control the balance of CO₂ and O₂ was analyzed in a closed ecosystem. For this purpose, a small closed ecosystem called integrative experimental system (IES) was established in our laboratory where we have been conducting multi-biological life support system experiments (MLSSE). The IES consists of a closed integrative cultivating system (CICS) and a plate photo-bioreactor. Four volunteers participated in the study for gas exchange by periodical breathing through a tube connected with the CICS. The plate photo-bioreactor was used to cultivate C. vulgaris. Results showed that the culture of C. vulgaris could be used in a situation of catastrophic failure of higher plant under the emergencies. And the productivity could recover itself to the original state in 3 to 5 days to protect the system till the higher plant was renewed. Besides, C. vulgaris could grow well and the productivity could be affected by the light intensity which could help to keep the balance of CO₂ and O₂ in the IES efficiently. Thus, C. vulgaris could be included in the design of a BLSS as a “compensatory system” in the emergency contingency and a “regulator” during the normal maintenance.     

Gas exchange rates of potato stands for bioregenerative life support

Plants can provide a means for removing carbon dioxide (CO₂) while generating oxygen (O₂) and clean water for life support systems in space. To study this, 20 m² stands of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants were grown in a large (113 m³ vol.), atmospherically closed chamber. Photosynthetic uptake of CO₂ by the stands was detected about 10 DAP (days after planting), after which photosynthetic rates rose rapidly as stand ground cover and total light interception increased. Photosynthetic rates peaked ca. 50 DAP near 45 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ under 865 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPF (average photosynthetic photon flux), and near 35 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ under 655 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPF. Short term changes in PPF caused a linear response in stand photosynthetic rates up to 1100 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPF, with a light compensation point of 185 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPF. Comparisons of stand photosynthetic rates at different CO₂ concentrations showed a classic C₃ response, with saturation occurring near 1200 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂ and compensation near 100 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂. In one study, the photoperiod was changed from 12 h light/12 h dark to continuous light at 58 DAP. This caused a decrease in net photosynthetic rates within 48 h and eventual damage (scorching) of upper canopy leaves, suggesting the abrupt change stressed the plants and/or caused feedback effects on photosynthesis. Dark period (night) respiration rates increased during early growth as standing biomass increased and peaked near 9 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ ca. 50 DAP, after which rates declined gradually with age. Stand transpiration showed a rapid rise with canopy ground cover and peaked ca. 50 DAP near 8.9 L m⁻² d⁻¹ under 860 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPF and near 6.3 L m⁻² d⁻¹ under 650 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPF. Based on the best photosynthetic rates from these studies, approximately 25 m² of potato plants under continuous cultivation would be required to support the CO₂ removal and O₂ requirements for one person.     

Radiosensitivity to high energy iron ions is influenced by heterozygosity for Atm, Rad9 and Brca1

Loss of function of DNA repair genes has been implicated in the development of many types of cancer. In the last several years, heterozygosity leading to haploinsufficiency for proteins involved in DNA repair was shown to play a role in genomic instability and carcinogenesis after DNA damage is induced, for example by ionizing radiation. Since the effect of heterozygosity for one gene is relatively small, we hypothesize that predisposition to cancer could be a result of the additive effect of heterozygosity for two or more genes critical to pathways that control DNA damage signaling, repair or apoptosis. We investigated the role of heterozygosity for Atm, Rad9 and Brca1 on cell oncogenic transformation and cell survival induced by 1 GeV/n⁵⁶Fe ions. Our results show that cells heterozygous for both Atm and Rad9 or Atm and Brca1 have high survival rates and are more sensitive to transformation by high energy iron ions when compared with wild-type controls or cells haploinsufficient for only one of these proteins. Since mutations or polymorphisms for similar genes exist in a small percentage of the human population, we have identified a radiosensitive sub-population. This finding has several implications. First, the existence of a radiosensitive sub-population may distort the shape of the dose–response relationship. Second, it would not be ethical to put exceptionally radiosensitive individuals into a setting where they may potentially be exposed to substantial doses of radiation.     

A broad climatology of very high latitude substorms

Magnetic data from a newly commissioned Indian Antarctic station Bharati (corrected geomagnetic (CGM) coordinates 74.7°S, 97.2°E) and closely-spaced IMAGE chain observatories (∼100° magnetic meridian in Northern hemisphere) has been analyzed to study the climatology of substorms which were localized poleward of the standard auroral oval. We considered four austral summers (year 2007–2010) when data from Bharati was available. Several very high latitude substorms were observed in this duration when the solar activity remained unexpectedly low for a long time. Various features of very high latitude substorms, e.g., local time dependence, interplanetary state, hemispherical asymmetry and their nightside low latitude signatures are examined. Events studied here, suggested the following properties of substorms occurring at very high latitudes: (1) maximum occurrence was observed near magnetic midnight (21:00–02:00 MLT). (2) In contradiction to earlier reports, many substorms were observed even during negative IMF Bz condition. In addition, majority of substorms occurred during low or moderate solar wind streams. (3) Magnetic signatures were often pronounced in the winter hemisphere. (4) Even if widely used standard AE indices fail to monitor very high latitude substorms, their low latitude signatures are often evident.     

Measurements of the radiation quality factor Q at aviation altitudes during solar minimum (2006–2008)

In radiation protection, the Q-factor has been defined to describe the biological effectiveness of the energy deposition or absorbed dose to humans in the mixed radiation fields at aviation altitudes. This particular radiation field is generated by the interactions of primary cosmic particles with the atoms of the constituents of the Earth’s atmosphere. Thus the intensity, characterized by the ambient dose equivalent rate H∗(10), depends on the flight altitude and the energy spectra of the particles, mainly protons and alpha particles, impinging on the atmosphere. These charged cosmic projectiles are deflected both by the interplanetary and the Earth’s magnetic field such that the corresponding energy spectra are modulated by these fields. The solar minimum is a time period of particular interest since the interplanetary magnetic field is weakest within the 11-year solar cycle and the dose rates at aviation altitudes reach their maximum due to the reduced shielding of galactic cosmic radiation. For this reason, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) performed repeated dosimetric on-board measurements in cooperation with several German airlines during the past solar minimum from March 2006 to August 2008. The Q-factors measured with a TEPC range from 1.98 at the equator to 2.60 in the polar region.     

Polar ionosphere and geomagnetic response for the flux transfer events: A case study

On April 15th 2003, Cluster crossed the dayside magnetopause boundary and observed a series flux transfer events (FTEs) during the interval from 0630 to 0730 UT. During this period, the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) showed a negative z component and a positive y component. Simultaneous corresponding transient plasma flows were identified in the near-conjugate polar ionosphere by the CUTLASS Finland HF radar, and the geomagnetic field disturbances were observed by the IMAGE ground-based magnetometers. By combing these data and applying the Cooling model, we show that the transient plasma flows and the geomagnetic field disturbances are closely related to the dayside FTEs.     

Physiologic and metabolic responses of wheat seedlings to elevated and super-elevated carbon dioxide

The metabolic consequence of suboptimal (400 μmol mol⁻¹ or ppm), near-optimal (1500 ppm) and supra-optimal (10,000 ppm) atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations [CO₂] was investigated in an attempt to reveal plausible underlying mechanisms for the differential physiological and developmental responses to increasing [CO₂]. Both non-targeted and targeted metabolite profiling by GC–MS and LC–MS were employed to examine primary and secondary metabolites in wheat (Triticum aestivum, cv Yocoro rojo) continuously exposed to these [CO₂] levels for 14, 21 and 28 days. Metabolite profile was altered by both [CO₂] and physiological age. In general, plants grown under high [CO₂] exhibited a metabolite profile characteristic of older plants under ambient CO₂. Elevated [CO₂] resulted in higher levels of phosphorylated sugar intermediates, though no clear trend in the content of reducing sugars was observed. Transient starch content was enhanced by increasing [CO₂] to a much greater extent at 10,000 ppm CO₂ than at 1500 ppm CO₂. The percentage increase of starch content resulting from CO₂ enrichment declined as plants develope. In contrast, elevated [CO₂] promoted the accumulation of secondary metabolites (flavonoids) progressively to a greater extent as plants became mature. Elevated [CO₂] to 1500 ppm induced a higher initial growth rate, while super-elevated [CO₂] appeared to negate such initial growth promotion. However, after 4 weeks, there was no difference in vegetative growth between 1500 and 10,000 ppm CO₂-grown plants, both elevated CO₂ levels resulted in an overall 25% increase in biomass over the control plants. More interestingly, elevated atmospheric [CO₂] reduced evapotranspiration rate (ET), but further increase to the supra-optimal level resulted in increased ET (a reversed trend), i.e. ET at 1500 ppm < ET at 10,000 ppm < ET at 400 ppm. The differential effect of elevated and super-elevated CO₂ on plants was further reflected in the nitrogen dynamics. These results provide the potential metabolic basis for the differential productivity and stomatal function of plants grown under elevated and super-elevated CO₂ levels.