Luxury Zinc Supply Prevents the Depression of Grain Nitrogen Concentrations in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Typically Induced by Elevated CO2

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) has inherently low concentrations of nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn), and those concentrations are falling as the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide ([CO2]) increases, threatening the quality of human diets. We investigated the effect of two levels of Zn supply (marginal and luxury), on Zn and N concentrations in whole grain of two indica rice cvv. Differing in Zn-efficiency (IR26 (inefficient) and IR36 (efficient)), grown in sand culture at ambient (400 µL CO2 L−1 (a[CO2])) and elevated (700 µL CO2 L−1 (e[CO2])) CO2 concentrations. For both cvv., luxury Zn-supply increased vegetative growth, and the foliar and grain Zn concentrations; the increases in grain yield were greater at e[CO2]. The e[CO2] decreased grain Zn concentrations ([Zn]), as is consistently observed in other studies. However, unique to our study, luxury Zn-supply maintained grain N concentrations at e[CO2]. Our data also show that enhanced Zn uptake is the basis of the greater Zn-efficiency of IR36. Lastly, luxury Zn-supply and e[CO2] appreciably decreased the time to panicle emergence and, consequently, to maturity in both cvv. Since Zn-supply can be manipulated by both soil and foliar applications, these findings are potentially important for the quality and quantity of the global rice supply. That is, further investigation of our findings is justified. Key message: Luxury zinc supply maintains grain N concentration at 700 µL CO2 L−1.