<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Influence of carbon dioxide on methi (<i>Trigonella foenum- graecum </i>L.) plants </span>

Abstract

Methi is an important leafy vegetable in Indian diet which contains many nutrients. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of carbon dioxide on the growth and nutrient composition of methi. The plants were grown in Open Top Chambers (OTC) under two concentrations of carbon dioxide viz. ambient (ACO₂ , 350±50 μmol mol-1) and elevated (ECO₂, 550±50 μmol mol^-1). The plants were analyzed 40, 60 and 80 days after exposure to carbon dioxide. It was observed that plants treated with elevated carbon dioxide had higher biomass and photosynthetic rate but lower stomatal conductance when compared with the plants raised in ambient carbon dioxide atmosphere. CO₂ also changed the nutrient composition of the leaves. Elevated CO₂ increased carbon and calcium contents along with decline in nitrogen and iron content of leaves. Therefore, rising CO₂ may lead to a change in the nutrient profile of this leafy vegetable.