Does interspecific competition change the barley's response and recovery from heat wave?

Different species have different sensitivity to heat waves; therefore, interspecific competition may affect the crop response to heat waves. We investigated the effects of heat waves on spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown with and without wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) as well as the recovery of barleys from stress. The plants were exposed to a 7-day 35/28oC (day/night) heat wave at ambient CO2 (400 mu mol/mol) and elevated CO2 (800 mu mol/mol). All seedlings were rehydrated and returned to control conditions (21/14oC, CO2 400 mu mol/mol) after the cease of heat wave and grown for a 7-day period of recovery. Heat wave had more pronounced negative effect on the barley's aboveground biomass under competition with mustard, whereas the response of root biomass was not influenced by the presence of weeds. The heat wave induced reductions in barley's photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and water use efficiency under interspecific competition were higher compared to monocultured conditions. Interspecific competition impaired and delayed the recovery of barley's biomass production and leaf gas exchange parameters after heat wave. Elevated CO2 slightly mitigated negative heat wave impact on the growth and leaf gas exchange parameters but had no effect during the recovery period.