Response of photosynthetic characteristics and yield of grape to different CO concentrations in a greenhouse.

Due to the enclosed environment of greenhouse grape production, the supply of CO required for photosynthesis is often insufficient, leading to photosynthetic downregulation and reduced yield. Currently, the optimal CO concentration for grape production in greenhouses is unknown, and the precise control of actual CO levels remains a challenge. This study aims to investigate the effects of different CO concentrations on the photosynthetic characteristics and yield of grapes, to validate the feasibility of a CO gas irrigation system, and to identify the optimal CO concentration for greenhouse grape production. In this study, a CO gas irrigation system combining CO enrichment and gas irrigation techniques was used with a 5-year-old Eurasian grape variety ( L.) 'Flame Seedless.' Four CO concentration treatments were applied: 500 ppm (500 ± 30 µmol·mol), 700 ppm (700 ± 30 µmol·mol), 850 ppm (850 ± 30 µmol·mol), and 1,000 ppm (1,000 ± 30 µmol·mol). As CO concentration increased, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids in grape leaves all reached maximum values at 700 ppm and 850 ppm during the same irrigation cycle, while the chlorophyll a/b ratio was lower than at other concentrations. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and water use efficiency (WUE) of grape leaves were the highest at 700 ppm. The transpiration rate and stomatal conductance at 700 ppm and 850 ppm were significantly lower than those at other concentrations. The light saturation point and apparent quantum efficiency reached their maximum at 850 ppm, followed by 700 ppm. Additionally, the maximum net photosynthetic rate, carboxylation efficiency, electron transport rate, and activities of SOD, CAT, POD, PPO, and RuBisCO at 700 ppm were significantly higher than at other concentrations, with the highest yield recorded at 14.54 t·hm. However, when the CO concentration reached 1,000 ppm, both photosynthesis and yield declined to varying degrees. Under the experimental conditions, the optimal CO concentration for greenhouse grape production was 700 ppm, with excessive CO levels gradually inhibiting photosynthesis and yield. The results provide a theoretical basis for the future application of CO fertilization and gas irrigation techniques in controlled greenhouse grape production.