Abstract
How unprecedented changes in climatic conditions will impact yield and productivity of some crops and their response to existing stresses, abiotic and biotic interactions is a key global concern. Climate change can also alter natural species’ abundance and distribution or favor invasive species, which in turn can modify ecosystem dynamics and the provisioning of ecosystem services. Basic anatomical differences in C3 and C4 plants lead to their varied responses to climate variations. In plants having a C3 pathway of photosynthesis, increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) positively regulates photosynthetic carbon (C) assimilation and depresses photorespiration. Legumes being C3 plants, they may be in a favorable position to increase biomass and yield through various strategies. This paper comprehensively presents recent progress made in the physiological and molecular attributes in plants with special emphasis on legumes under elevated CO2 conditions in a climate change scenario. A strategic research framework for future action integrating genomics, systems biology, physiology and crop modelling approaches to cope with changing climate is also discussed. Advances in sequencing and phenotyping methodologies make it possible to use vast genetic and genomic resources by deploying high resolution phenotyping coupled with high throughput multi-omics approaches for trait improvement. Integrated crop modelling studies focusing on farming systems design and management, prediction of climate impacts and disease forecasting may also help in planning adaptation. Hence, an integrated research framework combining genomics, plant molecular physiology, crop breeding, systems biology and integrated crop-soil-climate modelling will be very effective to cope with climate change.
Highlights
Feeding a growing population in the face of a changing climate poses a major challenge since it involves maintaining the genetic gains needed to sustain the productivity of major crops
It revealed that mean yield (95% confidence interval) and reported yield changed in all vegetables and legumes, ranging from a 22% variation for a 250 ppm increase in CO2, 8.9% for a 25% increase in O3 and 31.5% reduced mean yields with a 4 °C increase in temperature [2]
It focuses on the effect of elevated CO2 and explores possible strategies to tackle climate change that might contribute to better genetic gains in legumes
Summary
Feeding a growing population in the face of a changing climate poses a major challenge since it involves maintaining the genetic gains needed to sustain the productivity of major crops. This paper endeavors to address various perceptions and priorities revolving around these issues It focuses on the effect of elevated CO2 (a major greenhouse gas) and explores possible strategies to tackle climate change that might contribute to better genetic gains in legumes. Significant increase in shoot and root length (due to enhanced vigor) are major traits that can be attributed as the initial effects of elevated CO2 in plants. In legumes (chickpea), senescence at higher levels of CO2 occurred, following a decrease in chlorophyll content, Nitrogen Balance Index (NBI) and insect-plant interactions All these traits were attributed to low N content in the leaves [14]
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