Short- and long-term warming events on photosynthetic physiology, growth, and yields of field grown crops

Authors: Bernacchi, Carl; RUIZ-VERA, URSULA - Bayer Biosciences; Siebers, Matthew; Delucia, Nicholas; ORT, DONALD - University Of Illinois

Submitted to: Biochemical Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/16/2023
Publication Date: 7/7/2024
Citation: Bernacchi, C.J., Ruiz-Vera, U.M., Siebers, M.H., DeLucia, N.J., Ort, D.R. 2024. Short- and long-term warming events on photosynthetic physiology, growth, and yields of field grown crops. Biochemical Journal. 480(13):999-1014. https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20220433.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20220433

Interpretive Summary: Global temperatures are rising and this has a direct impact on all ecosystems. Of particular concern is the impact of rising temperature on crops. Substantial research has been conducted addressing how the growth and yields of crops respond to rising temperature, and in this work we provide a review of this work. The specific focus in this review is a summary of the key findings associated with open-air experiments where crops are exposed to high temperatures. These open-air experiments allow for plants to be grown under normal growing conditions associated with agriculture, but with the addition of heating capabilities to simulate global warming (a rise in mean growing season temperatures) as well as the increasing frequency of heat waves (short duration but high intensity warming). In this review, we provide an overview of in-field heating techniques employed to understand crop responses to a warmer growth environment. We then focus on key results associated with season-long warming, as expected with rising global mean temperatures, and with heat waves, as a consequence of increasing temperature variability and rising global mean temperatures. We then discuss the role of rising temperatures on atmospheric water vapor pressure deficit and potential implications for crop photosynthesis and productivity. Finally, we review strategies by which crop photosynthetic processes might be optimized to adapt crops to the increasing temperatures and frequencies of heat waves.

Technical Abstract: Global temperatures are rising as a result of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere associated with anthropogenic activities. Global warming includes both a warmer shift in mean temperatures as well as drastic increases in the probability of extreme heating events, termed heat waves. espite the ability of plants to cope with significant temporal variations in temperature, global warming is increasingly presenting challenges to terrestrial ecosystems, including agroecosystems. The impact of warming on crop species has direct consequences on food security, therefore understanding impacts and opportunities to adapt crops to global warming necessitates experimentation that allows for modification of the growth environment to represent global warming scenarios. The number of published studies addressing crop responses to warming is extensive, however, in-field studies where growth temperature is manipulated to mimic global warming are much more limited. In this review, we provide an overview of in-field heating techniques employed to understand crop responses to a warmer growth environment. We then focus on key results associated with season-long warming, as expected with rising global mean temperatures, and with heat waves, as a consequence of increasing temperature variability and rising global mean temperatures. We then discuss the role of rising temperatures on atmospheric water vapor pressure deficit and potential implications for crop photosynthesis and productivity. Finally, we review strategies by which crop photosynthetic processes might be optimized to adapt crops to the increasing temperatures and frequencies of heat waves.