Molecular and Genomic Tools for Improving Photosynthetic Efficiency of C3 Species in the Changing Climates

There is an urgent need to increase crop productivity beyond the existing yield potentials to tackle the challenge of food security in the near future. One of the areas of plant physiology that promises hope in overcoming this problem is increasing photosynthetic efficiency of C3 plants. In C3 plants photosynthesis is limited by features of the carbon-fixing enzyme called Rubisco because it promotes a parallel reaction that captures oxygen, thereby reducing photosynthesis by initiating photorespiration. Here, we review recent information's about the potential blockages of C3 photosynthesis in a changing climate, with attention to future targets to overcome this problem. Lastly, emerging approaches to improving C3 photosynthetic efficiency are discussed, and recent advances in molecular and genomic techniques needed to realize these improvements are presented.