Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and plant immunity to fungal pathogens: do the risks outweigh the benefits?
Biochem J
; 480(22): 1791-1804, 2023 11 29.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37975605
ABSTRACT
Anthropogenic emissions have caused atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations to double since the industrial revolution. Although this could benefit plant growth from the 'CO2 fertilisation' effect, recent studies report conflicting impacts of elevated CO2 (eCO2) on plant-pathogen interactions. Fungal pathogens are the leading cause of plant disease. Since climate change has been shown to affect the distribution and virulence of these pathogens, it is important to understand how their plant hosts may also respond. This review assesses existing reports of positive, negative, and neutral effects of eCO2 on plant immune responses to fungal pathogen infection. The interaction between eCO2 and immunity appears specific to individual pathosystems, dependent on environmental context and driven by the interactions between plant defence mechanisms, suggesting no universal effect can be predicted for the future. This research is vital for assessing how plants may become more at risk under climate change and could help to guide biotechnological efforts to enhance resistance in vulnerable species. Despite the importance of understanding the effects of eCO2 on plant immunity for protecting global food security, biodiversity, and forests in a changing climate, many plant-pathogen interactions are yet to be investigated. In addition, further research into the effects of eCO2 in combination with other environmental factors associated with climate change is needed. In this review, we highlight the risks of eCO2 to plants and point to the research required to address current unknowns.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Carbon Dioxide
/
Forests
Language:
En
Journal:
Biochem J
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom