Photosynthetic responses on Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Licorice) by abiotic stress combination: for an elevated CO2 and water stress

Juyeong Kim1*, Myeongja Kwak1, Iereh Kim1,

Hyeonmook Hwang1, Dawon Kang1, Yeji Lee1, Suyoung Woo1

(1University of Seoul)

Abstract: Artificial activities have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration from 280 ppm to more than 400 ppm today, meaning CO2 concentration has risen about 43% since the Industrial Revolution. According to the report of IPCC, CO2 is expected to reach 550 ppm by 2050 as modeled by the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP). In addition, drought is an important sign of climate change, as elevated carbon dioxide (eCO2). In recent years, research has focused on plant responses to the combination of abiotic stress such as eCO2 and water stress. Typically, legumes exposed to eCO2 and water stress tend to develop resistance to water stress by increasing photosynthetic rates and water use efficiency. Some studies have shown that eCO2 enhance rhizobial nodule activity and nitrogen fixation capacity in legumes.

In this study, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Licorice) which is a typical high-value medicinal crop and a legume crop was used. And it grows primarily in sandy soils in very arid regions of the world, such as Mongolia and China. While there is a considerable literature dealing with water stress and its effects on Licorice, there is unfortunately little research on licorice due to eCO2. In this study, we tried to investigate the response of Licorice to combination exposure to eCO2 and water stress.

Acknowledgment: This work was carried out with the support of “Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development (Project No. RS-2024-00398378)” Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.