Investigating photosynthetic evolution and the feasibility of inducing C4 syndrome in C3 plants

Abstract

AbstractPlant physiologists set about comprehending the genesis of the C4 photosynthetic pathway after its discovery by Hatch and Slack. They discovered that a sophisticated combination of morphological and biochemical adaptations allowed the plant to concentrate CO2 around RuBisCO to achieve maximum efficiency. We categorize the evolutionary events leading to C4 photosynthesis, beginning with anoxygenic photosynthesis and the evolution of RuBisCO to the cooling of Earth by the Great Oxygenation Event that led to the oxygenic photosynthesis. The evolutionary descent of the C4 plants is a phenomenon that occurred around 30 million years ago. Due to industrialization and population growth, improved photosynthetic efficiency and carbon fixation of C4 plants could contest the current global scenario of rising CO2 concentration. C3 crops engineered with C4 traits, implemented on a large scale, could impact the climate globally. Here we discuss the various strategies used to introduce C4 traits in the C3 plants and the potential techniques to be considered for successful hybridization.