Effects of CO2 Enrichment on Carbon Assimilation, Yield and Quality of Oriental Melon Cultivated in a Solar Greenhouse

Since CO2 is the fundamental substrate for photosynthesis, fluctuating concentrations have a direct effect on plant growth and metabolism. Accordingly, enrichment within certain range was found to improve yields quality of plants. In order further understand underlying impact enrichment, this study employed an open-top chamber box model with following two treatments: control treatment (CO2 concentration: 380 ± 30 μL/L) (1200 50 μL/L). The effects leaf carbon assimilation, fruit yield were subsequently determined. net photosynthetic rate, intercellular concentration, dry matter accumulation soluble sugar content in oriental melon leaves increased significantly day 5 enrichment. Moreover, significant increase activity assimilation-related enzymes Rubisco, RCA, FBPase CA also observed, upregulation CmRubisco, CmRCA, CmFBPase CmCA gene expression from 15 Thus, per sugars solids significantly. These findings suggest that has positive growth, increasing photosynthesis carbon-assimilation-related associated expression, thereby improving quality. results provide foundation cultivated solar greenhouses autumn/winter winter/spring.