Northern red oak in the western Lake States area of the USA exists on the most xeric edge of its distribution range. Future climate-change scenarios for this area predict decreased water availability along with increased atmospheric CO2. We examined recent photosynthate distribution and growth in seedlings as a function of CO2 mole fraction (400, 530 and 700 μmol mol−1 CO2), water regime (well watered and water-stressed), and ontogenic stage. Water stress effects on growth were largely offset by elevated CO2.

Water stress increased root mass ratio without concurrently increasing allocation of recent photosynthate to the roots. However, apparent sink strength of water-stressed seedlings at the completion of the third growth stage tended to be greater than that of well watered seedlings, as shown by continued high export, which may contribute carbon reserves to support preferential root growth under water-stressed conditions.

Elevated CO2 decreased apparent shoot sink strength associated with the rapid expansion of the third flush. Carbon resources for the observed enhanced growth under elevated CO2 could be provided by enhanced photosynthetic rate over an increased leaf area (Anderson & Tomlinson, 1998, this volume).

Increased sink strength of LG seedlings under water-stressed conditions, together with decreased apparent shoot sink strength associated with growth in elevated CO2 provide mechanisms for offsetting water stress effects by growth in elevated CO2.

Careful control of ontogeny was necessary to discern these changes and provides further evidence of the need for such careful control in mechanistic studies.

The interactive influences of elevated carbon dioxide, water stress, and ontogeny on carbon assimilation and biomass production were investigated in northern red oak, a species having episodic shoot growth characteristics. Seedlings were grown from acorns through three shoot-growth flushes (8–11 wk) in controlled-environment chambers at 400, 530 or 700 μmol mol−1 CO2 and under well watered or water-stressed soil-moisture regimes. Increasing CO2 growth concentration from 400 to 700 μmol mol−1 resulted in a 34% increase in net assimilation rate (A), a 31% decrease in stomatal conductance to water vapour (gs) and a 141% increase in water use efficiency (WUE) in well watered seedlings. In contrast, water-stressed seedlings grown at 700 μmol mol−1 CO2 demonstrated a 69% increase in A, a 23% decrease in gs, and a 104% increase in WUE. However, physiological responses to increased CO2 and water stress were strongly modified by ontogeny. During active third-flush shoot growth, A in first-flush and second-flush foliage of water-stressed seedlings increased relative to the quiescent phase following cessation of second-flush growth by an average of 115%; gs increased by an average of 74%. In contrast, neither A nor gs in comparable foliage of well watered seedlings changed in response to active third-flush growth. Whereas seedling growth was continuous through three flushes in well watered seedlings, growth of water-stressed seedlings was minimal following the leaf-expansion stage of the third flush. Through three growth flushes total seedling biomass and biomass allocation to root, shoot and foliage components were very similar in water-stressed seedlings grown at 700 μmol mol CO2 and well watered seedlings grown at 400 μmol mol−1 CO2. Enhancement effects of elevated CO2 on seedling carbon (C) assimilation and biomass production may offset the negative impact of moderate water stress and are likely to be determined by ontogeny and stress impacts on carbon sink demand.