When do plants care about CO2 fluctuations?

scottward

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Oct 26, 2007
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Do plants care about CO2 fluctuations provided, at the lowest point in the fluctuation, the CO2 level is still above ~ 30mg/l (i.e. Rubisco is saturated at 30mg/l)?

e.g.
If, at a particular point in the water, the CO2 level is varying between 20mg/l and 40mg/l, I believe the plant WILL care (growth very poor, possible autofragmentation etc).
However, if the fluctuation was between 30mg/l and 50mg/l, the plant WON'T care (since Rubisco fully saturates at 30mg/l anyway)?

Am I understanding this correctly?

Scott.
 

Tug

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Jan 5, 2009
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That's how I understand it. Of course this means you might just have it wrong. :eek:
Do you have the link? I would like to look at that thread again.
 
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Tom Barr

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Jan 23, 2005
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For common aggressive fast growing thin leaved weeds, the range is 20-35ppm of CO2.
For other species? It is going to be higher. they will still grow nicely, but to fully saturate, some might go quite high.

We have 300 species +, maybe 5 have been tested for CO2 and light like this.

Then only a few common weeds.
As far as max levels, this is the same as Liebig's law, but applies to CO2(and light as well)

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

scottward

Guru Class Expert
Oct 26, 2007
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Brisbane, Australia
For common aggressive fast growing thin leaved weeds, the range is 20-35ppm of CO2.

So Tom this is generally the 'indicator' plant group, i.e. fast growing stem plants that show up CO2 issues the fastest and therefore make a good 'indicator' to general CO2 levels?

If the tank was filled just with these plants in the 20-35ppm range, would the answer to my question then be yes - i.e. provided the lowest point of any fluctuation was greater than 35ppm the plant wouldn't care about any fluctuation? Whereas at levels lower than 35ppm the plant would?