Effect of elevated CO2 levels on some growth parameters and seed quality of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

Elevated carbon dioxide is known to impact crop growth and productivity. Groundnut is a very important edible oilseed crop raised mostly under rainfed situations worldwide. In the present study, two cultivars of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) viz., JL 24 and ICGV 91114 were raised in open top chambers at two elevated CO2 levels (550 and 700ppm) during Kharif 2010 to investigate the effect of raised levels of CO2 on various growth parameters and seed quality. The seed oil and protein contents were higher in JL 24 compared to ICGV 91114 in all the treatments and showed a declining trend with elevated carbon dioxide concentrations. The oil and protein contents in ICGV 91114 showed a decline at 550 ppm of CO2 and a slight increase at 700 ppm of CO2 . The saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic) showed a decreasing trend while oleic acid (omega-9) registered an increasing trend in JL 24 at elevated CO2 levels. The trend was similar in ICGV 91114 except at 550 ppm of CO2 where oleic acid registered a decline before an increase at 700 ppm. Linoleic acid (omega- 6) content decreased at 550 ppm and then increased slightly at 700 ppm of CO2 in JL 24, whereas it showed a reverse trend in ICGV 91114. In general, the saturated fatty acid levels decreased in both the genotypes while a corresponding increase was observed in unsaturated fatty acids under elevated CO2 concentrations which could prove to be beneficial from the human nutritional point of view under future changed climatic scenario.