Photosynthesis, Nitrogen and Elevated CO₂ in the Atmosphere

Dear Colleagues,

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert CO₂ and sunlight into organic compounds, essential for growth. Elevated atmospheric CO₂ levels, resulting from human activities, can enhance photosynthetic rates and plant biomass production, a phenomenon known as the CO₂ fertilization effect. However, this effect is often limited by the availability of nitrogen, a critical nutrient for protein and chlorophyll synthesis. Under high-CO₂ conditions, plants may experience nitrogen dilution, where growth outpaces nitrogen uptake, potentially reducing photosynthetic efficiency and crop quality. Understanding the interaction among CO₂ enrichment, nitrogen cycling, and plant physiology is crucial for predicting ecosystem responses to climate change and optimizing agricultural practices.

This Special Issue invites the submission of original research articles that investigate the effects of elevated CO₂ on plant physiology, with a particular focus on mineral nutrition. We welcome studies employing a range of ecological, physiological, and genetic approaches.

Prof. Dr. Bertrand Hirel
Prof. Dr. Christine H. Foyer
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.