Redox regulation in C3 and C4 plants during climate change and its implications on food security

This review focus on the similarities and differences in redox regulation in C3 and C4 plants. Antioxidant defence response against abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and high temperatures is reviewed. The redox mediated regulation of growth and development of C3 and C4 plants are also addressed. AbstractAchieving food security and sustainable food production is a major challenge for plant scientists. To accomplish this, the global food production needs not only to be remarkably boosted, but it has to be achieved under harsh environmental conditions. Moreover, the climate change scenarios estimate an enhanced pressure on crop yields in the upcoming decades. C4 photosynthesis is highly promising to meet these challenges to global food production. Under current CO2 levels, C4 photosynthesis is more efficient than C3 photosynthesis, but more data is needed to map out its response under elevated CO2 (eCO2) conditions. Growing evidence also suggests that C4 photosynthesis could be more efficient in water use under eCO2. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an inevitable consequence of oxygenic photosynthesis and is also one of the first responses to environmental stresses. C3 and C4 plants have different ROS profiles, mainly because of reduced photorespiration in the latter. Moreover, the effects of eCO2 on C3 and especially C4 plants remain poorly understood. Since C3 and C4 plants have different ROS production patterns, it is likely that ROS signalling and down...
Source: Food and Energy Security - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research