Peanut cultivars' performance under elevated CO2 concentrations

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The current atmospheric CO2 concentration is approximately 418 ppm, and future projections suggest it will rise to around 550 ppm by mid-century and could reach 1,000 ppm by the end of the century due to anthropogenic emissions. Plant responses to elevated CO2 are highly variable, with some species showing significant increases in photosynthesis and biomass production, while others exhibit weaker or negligible growth responses. These differences are influenced by species-specific traits, nutrient availability, and environmental conditions. Understanding these variations is crucial for predicting crop performance under future climates and developing management strategies to optimize productivity and quality.

This study focused on exploring the physiological changes induced by elevated CO2 and how these changes impacted peanut yield and kernel quality. Open Top Chambers (OTC) experiments were conducted to assess the effects of elevated CO2 on growth, biomass production, yield, and nutritional composition. A study with three commercial peanut cultivars examined the entire crop cycle to evaluate changes in physiological traits, photosynthesis, biomass allocation, and kernel and forage quality. The study analysed the impact of elevated CO2 on peanut agronomy, nutritional composition, to provide insights for developing strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on food and feed production.