Effects of high levels of CO2 on gene expression in two different genotypes of Fagus sylvatica

Background The scenario of a changing environment, widely termed as global change is mainly caused by human activities. Oil and carbon combustion, the use of chlorofluorocarbons, and deforestation are one of the main factors responsible for increasing CO2 concentration and for an increase of air temperature. In addition global changes will affect precipitation patterns, nitrogen concentration in the atmosphere and enhanced UV-B radiation. Forest trees constitute a relevant economic and ecological resource that is under severe pressure by such environmental changes. However, the response of forest trees and in particular of the important forest tree species Fagus sylvatica to elevated CO2 levels on a gene expression basis is unknown so far. The principal aim of this study is the investigation of two different genotypes of Fagus sylvatica upon increased CO2 by microarray and gene expression analyses.