Impact of short-term and long-term elevated CO2 on emission of carbonyls from adult Quercus petraea and Carpinus betulus trees

The study aimed to elucidate the effect of elevated CO2 in short- and long-term experiments on the emission potential of carbonyls from mature oak (Quercus petraea) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). The trees were investigated using a canopy crane established in a mixed forest in Switzerland. Short-term CO2 experiments were performed on single leaves with a gas exchange measuring unit by increasing CO2 in the enclosure before and during the measurements. Long-term CO2 fumigation was performed for one vegetation period by a webFACE design. Short-term as well as long-term exposure of leaves resulted in no significant changes in carbonyl exchange in neither Q. petraea nor C. betulus. Carbonyl emission was not affected by stomatal closure under elevated CO2 levels. In contrast to the emission of isoprenoids from vegetation which is thought to be reduced at elevated atmospheric CO2, the exchange of carbonyls seems to be generally unaffected under these conditions.