Isoprene emission-free poplars – a chance to reduce the impact from poplar plantations on the atmosphere

• Published in: The New phytologist Vol. 194; no. 1; pp. 70 - 82
• Main Authors: Behnke, Katja, Grote, Rüdiger, Brüggemann, Nicolas, Zimmer, Ina, Zhou, Guanwu, Elobeid, Mudawi, Janz, Dennis, Polle, Andrea, Schnitzler, Jörg‐Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK New Phytologist Trust 01.04.2012; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Air Pollution - prevention & control; Air quality; Atmosphere - chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry; Atmospheric composition; Atmospheric models; Bioenergy; Biomass; Biomass production; Butadienes - analysis; Carbon; Carbon - metabolism; Carbon Dioxide - metabolism; Carbon dioxide emissions; Carbon Isotopes; Cellulose - metabolism; Climate; Climate effects; Computer Simulation; Crosses, Genetic; Emissions; Emissions control; Gene expression; Growing seasons; Growth; Hemiterpenes - analysis; Herbivores; Herbivory - physiology; Isoprene; Leaves; Lignin - metabolism; modelling; non‐isoprene emitting; outdoor conditions; Pentanes - analysis; Photosynthesis; Plant Transpiration - physiology; Plantations; Plants; Plants, Genetically Modified; Pollutant emissions; Poplar; Populus - genetics; Populus - growth & development; Populus × canescens; Primary production; Radiocarbon; RNA-mediated interference; Seasons; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Volatile organic compounds; Volatile Organic Compounds - analysis; Wood
• ISSN: 0028-646X; 1469-8137
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03979.x

Depending on the atmospheric composition, isoprene emissions from plants can have a severe impact on air quality and regional climate. For the plant itself, isoprene can enhance stress tolerance and also interfere with the attraction of herbivores and parasitoids. Here, we tested the growth performance and fitness of Populus × canescens in which isoprene emission had been knocked down by RNA interference technology (PcISPS-RNAi plants) for two growing seasons under outdoor conditions. Neither the growth nor biomass yield of the PcISPS-RNAi poplars was impaired, and they were even temporarily enhanced compared with control poplars. Modelling of the annual carbon balances revealed a reduced carbon loss of 2.2% of the total gross primary production by the absence of isoprene emission, and a 6.9% enhanced net growth of PcISPS-RNAi poplars. However, the knock down in isoprene emission resulted in reduced susceptibility to fungal infection, whereas the attractiveness for herbivores was enhanced. The present study promises potential for the use of non- or low-isoprene-emitting poplars for more sustainable and environmentally friendly biomass production, as reducing isoprene emission will presumably have positive effects on regional climate and air quality.