| Summary: | Field crop production must adapt to the challenges generated by the negative consequences of climate change. Yield loss caused by abiotic stresses could be counterbalanced by increasing atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration, but C<sub>3</sub> plant species and varieties have significantly different reactions to CO<sub>2</sub>. To examine the responses of wheat, barley and oat varieties to CO<sub>2</sub> enrichment in combination with simulated drought, a model experiment was conducted under controlled environmental conditions. The plants were grown in climate-controlled greenhouse chambers under ambient and enriched (700 ppm and 1000 ppm) CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations. Water shortage was induced by discontinuing the irrigation at BBCH stages 21 and 55. Positive CO<sub>2</sub> responses were determined in barley, but the CO<sub>2</sub>-sink ability was low in oats. Reactions of winter wheat to enriched CO<sub>2</sub> concentration varied greatly in terms of the yield parameters (spike number and grain yield). The water uptake of all wheat cultivars decreased significantly; however at the same time, water-use efficiency improved under 1000 ppm CO<sub>2</sub>. Mv Ikva was not susceptible to CO<sub>2</sub> fertilization, while no consequent CO<sub>2</sub> reactions were observed for Mv Nádor and Mv Nemere. Positive CO<sub>2</sub> responses were determined in Mv Kolompos.
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