Abstract:

Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of elevated CO₂ concentration and temperature on the morphological characteristics and nutrient component accumulation of three Lycium barbarum cultivars, so as to provide a theoretical basis for non-wood forests to cope with climate change and breed excellent adaptive cultivars. Methods: Three L. barbarum cultivars (‘Ningqi 1’, ‘Ningqi 7’, ‘Ningqi 10’) were subjected to the elevated CO₂ concentration (eCO₂) and atmospheric temperature (eT) in an Open-Top Chamber (OTCs) simulation control system. Fruits were collected at the young fruit stage (YF, treated for 60 days), green fruit stage (GF, treated for 70 days), coloring fruit stage (CF, treated for 80 days), and red fruit stage (RF, treated for 90 days) for measuring morphological characteristics and nutrient composition. Result: 1) Morphological analysis indicated that elevated CO₂ concentration significantly increased the longitudinal and transverse diameters of fruits at the CF and transverse diameter of fruits and single fruit weight at the RF of ‘Ningqi 1’. The elevated CO₂ concentration significantly increased the longitudinal diameter at the GF and the transverse diameter of fruits at the CF of ‘Ningqi 7’. The elevated CO₂ concentration significantly increased the transverse diameter of fruits at the YF and the single fruit weight at the CF of ‘Ningqi 10’. Elevated atmospheric temperature significantly increased the longitudinal diameter of fruits at the CF and RF, as well as the single fruit weight at the RF of ‘Ningqi 1’. Elevated atmospheric temperature significantly increased the longitudinal diameter of fruits at the GF and CF, as well as the transverse diameter of fruits and single fruit weight at the CF and RF of ‘Ningqi 7’. Elevated atmospheric temperature significantly increased the single fruit weight of ‘Ningqi 10’ (P<0.05). 2) Nutrient component analysis revealed that elevated CO₂ concentration increased the levels of galactose, sucrose, betaine, and flavonoids in the fruits of ‘Ningqi 1’ at four developmental stages, increased the levels of fructose, total sugar, sucrose, polysaccharides, carotenoids, and betaine at the RF of ‘Ningqi 7’, and increased the levels of galactose, fructose, glucose, and polysaccharides at the RF of ‘Ningqi 10’ (P<0.05). Elevated temperature treatment significantly increased the levels of galactose, fructose, total sugar, polysaccharides, betaine, and flavonoids at the RF of ‘Ningqi 1’, increased the levels of galactose, glucose, sucrose, and fructose at four developmental stages, as well as the levels of fructose, total sugar, polysaccharides, carotenoids, and betaine at the RF of ‘Ningqi 7’, and increased the levels of sucrose, carotenoids, and flavonoids at four developmental stages, as well as the levels of galactose, total sugar, and betaine at the RF of ‘Ningqi 10’ (P<0.05). Conclusion: Elevated CO₂ concentration and atmospheric temperature promote the morphological development and nutrient accumulation of L. barbarum. Among the three cultivars, ‘Ningqi 10’ exhibits stronger adaptability, with the largest increase in fruit size, single fruit weight, and 100-seeds weight during the development stage. Additionally, significantly increased levels of galactose, fructose, total sugar, polysaccharides, carotenoids, and betaine in the fruits.

Key words: Lycium barbarum, morphological characteristics, elevated temperature, elevated CO₂, polysaccharide