Plant Physiological Responses to Climatic and Environmental Change: Especially to Rise in CO2, Temperature and UV-B Radiation

Climate and environment have changed over the past eras, dramatically. A survey of literature indicated the deposition of carbon in the form of coal, oil, and reduction of atmospheric carbon in carboniferous era. Change in solar brightness, solar activity, volcanic activities have resulted in the variation of solar radiations received on Earth. Such changes have led in change in the life dominating in the past and at present, geographical distribution, and migration of plants species from one geographical area to other and acquiring many physiological adaptations with respect to change in climate. The researchers are interested in prediction of plants response in changing climate and environmental regimes in future. As per the available literature rise in atmospheric CO2 seems positive for plant growth. Rise in temperatures will reduce freezing and chilling stress incidence, but warming will increase the metabolic rates. The plants activate defense system including change in physiological responses, biosynthesis of enzymes and compounds, etc. to cope up with increased UV-B radiations. In higher plants such systems may also provide better defense against insect herbivory. However, the prediction of physiological response of plants life against changes in climate and environmental regimes remained always challenging. There is a need to develop theory and field-based experiments to make such projection.