Open research questions in Plant responses to elevated CO2

What the literature leaves open

• Future work should focus on improving the representation of management practices by leveraging better spatial and temporal datasets, refining key model parameters and processes with additional observations, and incorporating technological and socio-economic drivers that influence agricultural systems.

  Management practices and elevated atmospheric CO2 levels helped to sustain a high level of global rice production · 2026 · DOI

• 3390/ f8050 148 Dai L, Feng Z, Pan X et al (2019) Increase of apoplastic ascorbate induced by ozone is insufficient to remove the negative effects in tobacco, soybean and poplar.

  Drought modulates ozone stress through BVOCs, antioxidant defenses, and metabolic responses in a tropical tree · 2026 · DOI

• Looking forward, future research should focus on validating these physiological trade-offs under multi-generational climate change scenarios and in situ coastal conditions to optimize the cultivation and ecological management of this economi- cally vital macroalga. In contrast, the lowest electron flux parameters (TRo/RC, ETo/RC) recorded in the HC-MN group at 35 °C suggest that moderate nitrogen levels are insufficient to offset the biochemical depletion induced by HC, rendering the photosynthetic apparatus more vulnerable to thermal fluctuations (Pan et al.

  Responses of the growth and photosynthetic performance to nitrogen application on the red seaweed Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) grown at elevated atmospheric CO2 · 2026 · DOI

• should include reference sites to document baseline biochemical responses in mangroves and employ more evenly spaced sampling to strengthen the categorization of mangrove bioindicator species. Taken together, the results demonstrate that integrating APTI with atmospheric pollutant dispersion models, such as HYSPLIT, is a robust approach for identifying areas and periods of heightened vulnerability in mangroves exposed to point-source emissions and for providing key information to design conservation, restoration, and environmental mitigation strategies. tolerance

  Differential vulnerability of mangrove species associated with thermoelectric power plant emissions revealed by the air pollution tolerance index · 2026 · DOI

• The proposed PPDRTL framework provides a reliable and scalable approach for predicting PM2.5 deposition on road- side tree leaves using optimized segmentation techniques and machine learning. While the present study demonstrates strong predictive performance across varying traffic densities, several opportunities exist to further enhance the model’s accuracy, robustness, and applicability. Future research will therefore focus on technically advancing the system through the integration of deep learning methods, multi-pollutant detection, IoT-enabled continuous monitoring, and extensive cross-regional validation. These enhancements are intended to transform the PPDRTL framework into a real-time and adaptable air-quality prediction system capable of addressing diverse environmental conditions and large-scale deploy- ment scenarios. • Multi-pollutant Detection: Extension to SO2, CO, NO2, and PM10 using hyperspectral imaging and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for extracting discriminative features from spectral signatures. • Deep Learning Integration: Implementation of a U-Net architecture for semantic segmentation of pollutant deposits, which is expected to improve segmentation accuracy by 15–20% compared to PSO-based methods. • Real-time Monitoring System: Development of IoT-enabled camera networks with edge computing capabilities for continuous monitoring, including: • Hardware specifications such as Raspberry Pi 4 with Camera Module v2, • Communication protocols including LoRaWAN for low-power data transmission, • A cloud-based aggregation and analytics platform architecture. • Seasonal Calibration Models: Creation of season-specific calibration coefficients using transfer learning approaches to account for variations in meteorological conditions. • Multi-city Validation: Extension of the proposed framework to multiple geographical locations with diverse traffic pat- terns, tree species, and climatic conditions. • Smartphone-based Citizen Science: Development of a mobile application to enable crowd-sourced data collection supported by automated image quality assessment mechanisms.

  PPDRTL: A novel framework for predicting pollutant deposition on roadside tree leaves using linear regression · 2026 · DOI

• The future of oilseed production in the face of climate change relies on new genetic technology, digital farming methods and sustainable practices. Advances in genetic engineering, particularly tools like CRISPR-Cas9 and genomic selection, are crucial for developing oilseed varieties that can withstand stresses such as heat, drought and saline soils, while also being more resistant to pests. Digital tools, including remote sensing and climate modelling, help farmers monitor environmental changes and make better decisions about planting and managing resources. Each type of oilseed crop has its specific challenges to overcome. Sesame is drought-tolerant but heat-sensitive; canola suffers yield losses from high temperatures; sunflower has moderate drought tolerance but is vulnerable to extreme weather, while groundnut is highly susceptible to heat and moisture stress. Research into crop-specific genetic traits for stress tolerance is vital. Elevated CO₂ may enhance photosynthesis but can be limited by heat stress and nutrient dilution. To combat climate-induced risks, strategies like disaster preparedness, sustainable practices and efficient water management (e.g., drip irrigation) should be implemented. Integrating oilseed cultivation into climate-smart agriculture frameworks will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Collaborative research across genomics, agronomy and climate science, along with supportive policies, is essential for ensuring sustainable oilseed production to meet global demands in a changing climate.

  Climate change and plant pathogens: Understanding dynamics, risks and mitigation strategies · 2024 · DOI

• There are relatively few studies on the response of extracellular enzyme Forests 2024, 15, x FOR PEER REVIEW 12 of 17 Figure 7. The results of enzyme activities showed that the activity of NAG was the highest among the five enzymes, indicating that the content of available nitrogen in the soil was insufficient, and the microorganisms accelerated the decomposition of soil organic nitrogen to meet their needs [42].

  Effects of Ozone Stress on Rhizosphere Soil of Poplar Seedlings · 2024 · DOI

• Sampling was conducted during a single post-monsoon season; there- fore, seasonal variations in APTI, DCC, and API could not be evaluated.

  Strategic selection of urban trees using APTI, DCC, and API: evaluating dust sequestration and pollution tolerance in Nagpur, India · 2026 · DOI

• Future research should focus on exploring the long-term effects of planting density on soil health, water use efficiency, and crop resilience under varying environmental stressors.

  Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Photosynthetically Active Radiation in Crops: Effects of Canopy Structure on Yield · 2025 · DOI

• However, many smallholder farmers struggle to adopt these methods due to economic challenges, limited knowledge, variations in how effective these strategies are in different https://plantsciencetoday.

  Climate change and plant pathogens: Understanding dynamics, risks and mitigation strategies · 2024 · DOI

• In addition, whether such results are representative of other systems remains to be investigated. We believe that the exploration of the effects of dust on plant reproduction is in its beginning stages, especially in highly urbanized cities and farmland, and additional research is needed. However, to our knowledge, the detrimental impact of dust pollution on vege- tation in these regions, especially on agricultural crops, remains poorly understood.

  Dust reduces plant female fitness by absorbing secretions and occupying surfaces of the stigma · 2026 · DOI

• Future research should examine the plants under natural field conditions to improve field applications.

  Carbon Dioxide Enrichment Partially Alleviates the Impact of Drought Stress on Cotton Growth and Yield · 2026 · DOI

• Study Limitations and Future Directions Several limitations of this study should be acknowledged.

  Elevated CO2 Alters Plant–Soil Nutrient Dynamics and Exacerbates Nutrient Dilution: A Field Comparison of Legume and Non-Legume Crops · 2026 · DOI

• Forests under Climate Change and Air Pollution: Gaps in Understanding and Future Directions for Research.

  Air Pollution as a Driver of Forest Dynamics: Patterns, Mechanisms, and Knowledge Gaps · 2026 · DOI

• These tradeoffs are ultimately limited by a combination of the resources or rewards available, and the costs associated with different strategies.

  Does Increasing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Facilitate Plant Invasions? · 2026 · DOI

• Yet, the relative contributions of these processes and their spatial coupling remain poorly quantified, limiting our understanding of the co-benefits and trade-offs between air quality improvement and carbon mitigation.

  Integrated assessment of climate–vegetation trade-offs between carbon sequestration and ozone air quality in China · 2026 · DOI

• While leaf and branch retention capacities have been extensively studied, the role of twigs remains poorly understood.

  Organ-level dry deposition velocities of PM2.5 on twigs, detached leaves, and defoliated branches of two morphologically contrasting tree species · 2026 · DOI

• However, the robustness of such predictive relationships under interacting environmental drivers remains unclear.

  Ambient-condition performance provides trait-dependent prediction of wheat genotype responses under elevated CO2 and chamber-associated warming · 2026 · DOI

• While deposition is well documented, wind-induced remobilization remains insufficiently quantified.

  Wind-Induced Resuspension and Net Removal of Particulate Matter (PM1–10) on Urban Shrub and Climbing Species · 2026 · DOI

• However, many of these defense and resistance mechanisms remain poorly understood.

  Genetic responses of plants to urban environmental challenges · 2025 · DOI

• The current body of knowledge on the effects of air pollutants on key interspecific interactions is biased towards and limited to a few pollinators, herbivores and parasitoids on model plants.

  Effects of Atmospheric Pollutants on Volatile‐Mediated Insect Ecosystem Services · 2025 · DOI

• However, their combined effects on wheat under real‐world conditions are not well understood, limiting the potential for adaptation.

  Joint Ozone Pollution and Climate Warming Reduce Yield but Enhance Grain Protein Content in a Resistant Wheat Variety · 2025 · DOI

• ABSTRACT The canopy thermal response of natural forests to elevated CO 2 (eCO 2 ) is an understudied biophysical feedback in the global climate system.

  Elevated CO 2 Increases the Canopy Temperature of Mature Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak) · 2025 · DOI

• However, the biochemical and molecular mechanisms governing these beneficial effects on crops under field conditions remain poorly understood, and differential effects due to different microbial formulations are enigmatic.

  AI-integrated metabolomics maps functional divergence of microbial consortia in field-grown maize · 2025 · DOI

• Deposition velocity of NO and NO 2 varies among plant species and the existence of the compensation point, the concentration value when net exchange flux of NO or NO 2 is zero, remains uncertain.

  Field Investigation of Leaf‐Level NO and NO 2 Exchange Between Atmosphere and Mature Pinus massoniana in a Subtropical Forest · 2025 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Plant responses to elevated CO2

• Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture and Its Mitigation Strategies: A Review · Sustainability · 2021 · 1,338 citations
• The Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Insect Pests · Insects · 2021 · 1,285 citations
• Plant Responses to Multiple Environmental Factors · BioScience · 1987 · 981 citations
• Climate change regulated abiotic stress mechanisms in plants: a comprehensive review · Plant Cell Reports · 2021 · 603 citations
• Developing climate‐resilient crops: improving plant tolerance to stress combination · The Plant Journal · 2021 · 600 citations
• The effect of increasing temperature on crop photosynthesis: from enzymes to ecosystems · Journal of Experimental Botany · 2021 · 576 citations
• Climate Change Risks to Global Forest Health: Emergence of Unexpected Events of Elevated Tree Mortality Worldwide · Annual Review of Plant Biology · 2022 · 514 citations
• Plant responses to multifactorial stress combination · New Phytologist · 2022 · 480 citations
• Global Warming and Terrestrial Ecosystems: A Conceptual Framework for Analysis · BioScience · 2000 · 457 citations
• Isotopic Evidence for Early Maize Cultivation in New York State · American Antiquity · 1977 · 428 citations

Most recent work

• Precision engineering of carbon partitioning enhances crop resilience to heat stress · New Crops · 2026
• An integrated methanol and terpene sensing platform for real-time VOC profiling of nitrogen-stressed cotton plants · Computers and Electronics in Agriculture · 2026
• Air Pollution as a Driver of Forest Dynamics: Patterns, Mechanisms, and Knowledge Gaps · Forests · 2026
• Elevated CO₂ enhances metabolic profiles and bioactive compound accumulation in Salvia officinalis with associated growth responses · European Food Research and Technology · 2026
• Drought modulates ozone stress through BVOCs, antioxidant defenses, and metabolic responses in a tropical tree · Planta · 2026
• Optimizing irrigation for cherry tomato under elevated temperature and CO2: Integrating physiology, economic benefits and water-use efficiency · Agricultural Water Management · 2026
• CO 2 ‐sensitive K + channel traffic affects stomata and whole‐plant water use · Journal of Integrative Plant Biology · 2026
• Tree Biomass Sensitivity to Ozone Exposure: Insights From a Decade of Free‐Air Experiments · Global Change Biology · 2026
• Including ozone increases estimated global crop and economic benefits of carbon neutrality policies · Nature Food · 2026
• Effects of straw management practices on soil organic carbon fraction dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions in a double-season rice cropping system · Soil Ecology Letters · 2026

Related topics in Agricultural and Biological Sciences