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Interaction Of The Onset Of Spring And Elevated Atmospheric Co2 On Ragweed (Ambrosia Artemisiifolia L.) Pollen Production, Christine A. Rogers, P Wayne, E Macklin, M L. Muilenberg, C W. Wagner, P R. Epstein, F A. Bazzaz

Christine A. Rogers

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is responsible for climate changes that are having widespread effects on biological systems. One of the clearest changes is earlier onset of spring and lengthening of the growing season. We designed the present study to examine the interactive effects of timing of dormancy release of seeds with low and high atmospheric CO2 on biomass, reproduction, and phenology in ragweed plants (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), which produce highly allergenic pollen. We released ragweed seeds from dormancy at three 15-day intervals and grew plants in climate-controlled glasshouses at either ambient or 700-ppm CO2 concentrations, placing open-top bags over inflorescences …