Effects of short-term exposure to elevated atmospheric CO2 on yield, nutritional profile, genetic regulatory pathways, and rhizosphere microbial community of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 512; no. 1-2; pp. 297 - 311
• Main Authors: Duarte, Rafael D. C., Nunes da Silva, Marta, Fortunato, Gianuario, Quirós-Vargas, Juan, Muller, Onno, Manaia, Célia M., Vasconcelos, Marta W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.07.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural ecosystems; Agriculture; Analytical chemistry; Antioxidants; Beans; Biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carbon dioxide; Climate change; Community structure; Crop improvement; Crops; Ecology; Exposure; Food security; French beans; Gene expression; Grain; Human nutrition; Legumes; Life Sciences; Microbiomes; Micronutrients; Microorganisms; Nitrogen; Nutritive value; Phaseolus vulgaris; Phenolic compounds; Phenols; Physiology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Potassium; Relative abundance; Research Article; Rhizosphere; Seeds; Soil microorganisms; Soil Science & Conservation; Symbiosis; Trace elements; Germany; eCO; Legumes; Climate change; Microelements; Elevated CO; Soil microbiome; ); Phenolic content; Gene expression
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-024-07074-y

Aim Legumes are vital to agroecosystems and human nutrition, yet climate change is compromising their nutritional value. This study aims to assess how a one-month exposure to elevated CO 2 (eCO 2 ) impacts biomass yield, mineral profile, gene expression, and the soil microbiome of common bean plants ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Methods Phaseolus vulgaris  L. was grown in field conditions under ambient CO 2 (control, aCO 2 , 400 ppm) or eCO 2 (600 pm) from the start of pod filling until plant maturity and analyzed for several morphophysiological and nutritional parameters. Results Compared with aCO 2 , eCO 2 exposure significantly increased plant and grain biomass, with fluctuations in mineral accumulation. Notably, it decreased grain iron and zinc concentrations, two essential microelements related to food security, by 59% and 49%, respectively. Additionally, grain phenolic content decreased by up to 41%. Genes involved in mineral uptake (such as  FER1 ,  ZIP1 , and  ZIP16 ), plant response to stress ( TCR1 ,  TCR2 , and  HLH54 ) and symbiosis with soil microorganisms ( NRMAP7  and  RAM2 ) seemed to regulate effects. Microbiome analysis supported these findings, with an increase in the relative abundance of Pseudomonadota by 10%, suggesting eCO 2 -induced alterations in microbial community structure. Conclusions This research demonstrates how eCO 2 impacts the nutritional quality of common beans regarding micronutrients and phenolic content, while also affecting soil microbiome composition. Highlighting the value of shorter term eCO 2 treatments, the findings provide early insights into immediate plant responses. This underscores the need for crop improvement strategies to address nutrient deficiencies that may arise under future eCO 2 conditions.