The topic of photosynthesis has widely been researched by scientists as it is significant for green plants and other organisms to form chemical energy from light energy. The conversion of light energy involves carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and minerals to organic compounds rich in energy and oxygen. Therefore, this suggests that carbon dioxide is an essential element in the photosynthesis process. Plants tend to remove carbon from the atmosphere and oceans to fix it into organic chemicals. Various studies have investigated how elevated CO2 concentration impacts the entire photosynthesis process up to the point when the plant produces.
Rong Zhou et al. (2) are among the researchers who examined how elevated CO2 concentration combined with the stress attached to the heat and drought impact photosynthesis. Though the researchers’ focus was on tomatoes, they established extensive effects based on various aspects. Rong Zhou et al. (2) highlighted the increase in the net photosynthetic and intercellular rate as the possible causes of CO2 concentration. They were also able to identify the decrease in plant conductance, contributing to the increase in water use efficiency. These findings were supported by Reddy Attipalli et al. (46), who indicated that elevated CO2 concentrations cause a global increase in the average temperatures that drastically shift the precipitation. Ultimately, these effects are observed in plant growth and development since the photosynthetic carbon assimilation patterns change. However, Reddy Attipalli et al. (46) argue that plants tend to respond to the potential impact of many factors such as water, temperature, and soil nutrition to influence the photosynthetic process. Therefore, these researchers argue that photosynthetic responses should not be tied to the concentrations of CO2 but rather to differences in experimental technologies, treatment duration, plant age, and plant species.
Rong Zhou et al. (4), on the other hand, attempted to contradict the views of Reddy Attipalli et al. (47) by arguing that CO2 concentrations substantially impact the conversion of chemical energy in plants. They indicate that CO2 concentrations in plants such as tomatoes tend to induce the closure of stomata or decrease their stomatal density to generate reactive species of oxygen, ABA, and ABA receptors since they are required in plants. Similarly, according to Rong Zhou et al. (4), there is a significant number of genes in plants that are upregulated and downregulated by the CO2 while playing essential roles in the process of photosynthesis and leave development. As a result of this effect, transcriptional alteration and the leaf senescence delay in birch are reduced by the concentration of CO2.
Reddy Attipalli et al. (48), in their research, further downplays the significance of CO2 concentrations in photosynthesis by indicating that the vegetation bulk belongs to the group of photosynthesis called C3. The name C3 entails carboxylation as a 3-carbon acid, which supports that C3 is most used in the photosynthetic pathway. The authors argue that C3 is more impactful in the photosynthesis process than CO2 and only operates at a less than optimal level to show dramatic growth and production. Thus, the two articles by Reddy Attipalli et al. and Rong Zhou et al. examine the topic of photosynthesis from different perspectives in relation to the impact of CO2 concentrations. While Rong Zhou et al. (3) supports that CO2 concentration impacts the photosynthetic process in plants, Reddy Attipalli et al. (49) show that even with the elevated CO2, other factors contribute towards the photosynthetic process.
References
Reddy Attipalli R., et al. “The Impact of Global Elevated CO₂ Concentration on Photosynthesis and Plant Productivity.” Current Science, vol. 99, no. 1, 2010, pp. 46–57. EBSCOhost. Web.
Rong Zhou, et al. “Interactive Effects of Elevated CO2 Concentration and Combined Heat and Drought Stress on Tomato Photosynthesis.” BMC Plant Biology, vol. 20, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1–12. EBSCOhost. Web.