Conclusion

Abstract

Investigations on the impact of eCO₂ on fruit tree crops are comparatively very few in the literature, which limits the conclusions that can be drawn from such studies. However, available studies indicate that there is certainly an increase in vegetative and reproductive biomass due to higher CO₂ as also observed in forest trees. An interesting point is that some of the constituents such as vitamins have shown increase due to eCO₂. Down regulation of photosynthesis is possible in some of the species. Genetic manipulation to enhance the specificity of Rubisco for CO₂ relative to O₂ and to increase the catalytic rate of Rubisco in crop plants would increase potential yield, thereby increasing input-use efficiency of cropping systems as a whole. Nitrogen use efficiency is another important aspect to be investigated in fruit trees in a future climate change scenario.