Global warming and its impact on productivity

INDEX Evolution of atmosphere with respect to different eras Sequence involved in climate change Concept of Productivity Physiological changes in plants under temperature stress Mitigation strategies to cope climate change

Aeon

Era

Duration in millions of years

Millions of years ago

Phanerozoic

Cenozoic
Mesozoic

65
183

5
248

Palaeozoic
Proterozoic Late Middle Early Late Middle Early

295
357 700 900 500 400 400

543
900 1600 2500 3000 3400 3800
rise of atmospheric oxygen (ice age)

Hadean Archaean

Precambrian

800

4600

Table 1: Geologic time-scale showing major climatic and evolutionary events during the Precambrian Era

Elements

Theoretical reducing atmosphere Methane (CH4) Carbon Monoxide (CO) Hydrogen (H2) Ammonia (NH3) Nitrogen (N2) Water (H2O)

Present oxidizing atmosphere

Carbon Hydrogen Nitrogen Oxygen

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Water (H2) Nitrogen (N2) Oxygen (O2)

Table 2. Forms of elements in early and present atmosphere.

Climate change : Statistically significant variation in either the mean state of the climate or in its variability, persisting for an extended period (typically decades or longer). ----- MOEF.

Global Warming: Global Warming refers to an average increase in the Earth's temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate patterns.

Green House Gases: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs), Per fluorocarbons (PFCs) ,Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)

Green House effect: The greenhouse effect is an increase in the temperature of a planet as heat energy from sunlight is trapped by the gaseous atmosphere

Morphological changes Scorching of leaves and twigs Sunburns on leaves, branches and stems Leaf senescence and abscission Shoot and root growth inhibition Fruit discoloration

Anatomical changes Reduced cell size Closure of stomata and curtailed water loss Increased stomatal and trichomatous densities Greater xylem vessels of both root and shoot Mesophyll cells were damaged in grapes.

Physiological changes

High leaf temperature and water deficit lead to heat stress CAM plants No cooling by Transpiration Loss of heat

Stomata closed (Day)

convection Re emitted by conduction

C3 and C4 Plants

Stomata open (day)

Cooling of leaf temperature

a) Soil water deficit b) High relative humidity C3 and C4 Plants Stomata partial closed

4 to 5 0C increase leaf temperature

Photosynthesis is inhibited before respiration at high temperature At normal condition, rate of photosynthesis is more than rate of respiration. Temperature at which rate of photosynthesis equals rate of respiration is called as compensation point. At temperatures above compensation point, rate of respiration is more than the rate of photosynthesis.

Under such condition photosynthesis cannot replace the carbon used

as substrate for respiration. As a result carbohydrate reserves decline, and fruits and vegetables lose their sweetness.

High temperature reduces membrane stability At high temperature, there is a increase in the fluidity of membrane lipids which results in loss of physiological function. High temperature decreases the strength of hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interaction between the polar groups of proteins within the aqueous phase of the membrane.

Modification of membrane composition, structure and leakage of

ions. Inhibition of processes such as photosynthesis and respiration that depend on the activity of membrane associated electron carriers and enzymes

Several adaptation to protect leaves against excessive heating

Plants avoid excessive heating of leaves by lowering the

absorption of solar radiation.

Reflective leaf hairs and leaf waxes.

Leaf rolling orientation and growth of small, highly dissected leaves.

At high temperatures plant produce heat shock proteins

Book source :Plant Physiology (Taiz & Zeiger) p 605

Adaptation to heat stress is mediated through cytosolic Calcium

Book source :Plant Physiology (Taiz & Zeiger) p 606

Accumulation of compatible osmolytes sugars and sugar alcohols (polyols), proline, tertiary and quaternary ammonium compounds, and tertiary sulphonium compounds

Mitigation strategies for plants to cope up with climate change

To identify the varieties sensitive to high temperature.

Improved thermotolerance using various genetic approaches. Induction of Thermo tolerance.

Accumulation of compatible osmolytes:

sugars and sugar alcohols (polyols), proline, tertiary and quaternary ammonium compounds, and tertiary sulphonium compounds are accumulated .
Secondary metabolite production: Increased activity of Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase -main acclimatory response of cells to heat stress. Thermal stress induces the biosynthesis of phenolics and suppresses their oxidation-acclimation to heat stress in watermelon. anthocyanins serve to decrease leaf osmotic potential -increased uptake and reduced transpirational loss of water under environmental stresses including high temperature

CONCLUSION
Climate change is a serious concern which can affect overall productivity of crops plants and natural vegetation. Effects of high temperature on plants range from morphological, anatomical and physiological changes. It is important to study plants responses to heat stress in order to understand their mechanism to cope with high temperature. It is possible to induce thermo tolerance in plants through gradual exposure to heat.

REFERENCES
Book of Plant Physiology (Taiz & Zeiger) A. Wahid, S. Gelani a, M. Ashraf a, M.R. Foolad b(2007) , Heat tolerance in plants: An overview Environmental and Experimental Botany 61 199 223. Jenks M.A and Hasegawa P.M (2005) Plant abiotic stress (1th ed) Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Oxford. UK.