For years, scientists have seen increased photosynthesis as one of the only silver coatings possible for increasing atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2).  Because plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, higher levels of gas are expected to lead to more productive plants.

In a review published in Trends in Plant Science on November 3, scientists at the Montpellier Institute of Plant Sciences in France explain why this effect may be less than expected, because high LEVELS of CO2 make it difficult to obtain the minerals needed for plant growth. provide nutritious food.

"There are many reports in the literature showing that the CO2 levels expected by the end of the 21st century will lead to a lower nitrogen concentration in most plants, which will mainly affect the protein content in plant products," says first author Alain. Gojon, research director of the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment of France.

"It is very important to understand why growing plants with high CO2 levels has such a negative effect on the protein content of most basic crops and on the future of food."

Plants use photosynthesis to incorporate CO2 into the sugars from which they get their energy. However, photosynthesis does not provide plants with the main minerals they need to grow. For most plants, these minerals, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and iron, are extracted from the soil through their root systems. Nitrogen is particularly important as it is a key component for the amino acids that plants use to produce proteins.

Source: Agrolink