Climate Change, Crop-weed interaction, Drought stress, C3 weeds, C4 weeds, elevated CO2 and elevated temperature
As the global climate continues to shift, the impacts of rising temperatures and elevated atmospheric CO2 on agricultural systems have become increasingly significant, particularly in relation to crop-weed interactions. Several crops are especially vulnerable to climate-adaptable weeds, which possess higher fecundity, aggressiveness, and ecological resilience. Elevated CO2 levels typically enhance the growth and competitive advantage of C3 crops over C4 weeds, due to the greater photosynthetic efficiency of C3 plants under higher CO2 concentrations. However, this advantage may diminish with rising temperatures, as C4 weeds are more resilient to heat stress and can outcompete C3 crops. The interaction between elevated CO2 and temperature creates complex scenarios where the benefits of CO2 enrichment for C3 crops can be offset by the competitive edge gained by C4 weeds under higher temperatures. Additionally, drought conditions further complicate these interactions, with C4 weeds generally exhibiting greater resilience and competitive ability under moisture stress compared to C3 weeds. Key outcomes of this review include the enhanced competitiveness of weeds under climate change, the altered physiological responses of both crops and weeds, and insights into the molecular and biochemical mechanisms driving weed adaptability to elevated CO2 and temperature. These shifts in crop-weed dynamics present serious implications for crop yields. The review emphasizes the urgent need for adaptive, climate-resilient weed management strategies to mitigate these effects and sustain agricultural productivity in the future.