Effect of elevated CO2 on plant growth, active constituents, and production

In the age of industrialization, the levels of many greenhouse gases have been elevated including carbon dioxide. Elevated carbon dioxide (e[CO2]) can direct plant growth, development, and production of its internal nutrient flow which may further enhance the plant biomass. Moreover, e[CO2] alters carbohydrate production as well as photosynthetic metabolism in plants. An increase in CO2 level increases photosynthesis-related protein-encoding genes such as enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCo) that further result in sucrose accumulation along with plant biomass growth. It significantly improves the uptake of water, mineral, organic acids, carbohydrates, plant morphological traits, reduced stomatal conductance, enhances the accumulation of secondary metabolites production. While e[CO2] effect on phytohormones are still controversial. Therefore, the current chapter highlights the current status of CO2, historical perspectives, deleterious effect of high CO2 on plant growth, production of active constituents, and plant architecture. Furthermore, e[CO2] offers plants a pseudo-advantage in which they show increased carbon sequestration and photosynthesis from seeding to seed maturation under normal as well as stress conditions.