Physiological Basis of Crop Response to Climate Change

The elevation of atmospheric CO₂ and temperature is a result of carbon emissions mainly arising from anthropogenic sources. Recently, there has been an increase in the researches carried out worldwide to better help us understand the interactions of climate change with cultivation of rice and how climate change affects the productivity of rice influencing the global food security. The increase in temperatures due to rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations have a direct effect on the physiology of plant, viz., respiration, photosynthetic carbon uptake, grain filling etc. Response of rice to carbon dioxide is not linear and there are variations among species and cultivars. The potential increase in photosynthetic rates to elevated CO₂ is negated by higher temperature and acclimation or down regulation is observed over time. Rising temperature can increase floral sterility and ultimately reduce yield. Recent projected levels of CO₂ are likely to reduce or alter nutritional quality of crops. This paper illustrates the recent evidences and potential effect of global climate change on the quality and productivity of crops.