Effects of Increased Temperature on Photosynthesis of C3 and C4 Plants

Abstract

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants synthesis their own food using sun light and carbon dioxide. High temperature influences photosynthetic function of plants by affecting the rate of chemical reactions and structural organization and conformational changes in enzymes. Photosynthetic response to temperature relies on plant species and growth conditions. C4 plants reveal high rates of photosynthesis at high temperature while C3 plants show greater photosynthesis efficiency at low temperature. In C3 plants, Rubisco activity is limited by CO2 concentration. In C4 plants, although rubisco activation is decreased at leaf temperatures above 32°C, the high level of CO2 in the mesophyll chloroplasts can counteract this effect until temperature approaches 40°C. Increased temperature will affect the physiological processes essential for crop growth and development of crops. If increases in temperature accompany increases in CO2 concentration, crop yields will decrease in regions where temperatures are below or above optimum. Future research should be directed toward identifying high-temperature tolerant crop cultivars that can produce more seeds under harsh climatic conditions. Keywords: Photosynthesis, C4, C3, Temperature DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/13-11-03 Publication date: June 30 th 2022