2: Dominance of C4 photosynthetic pathway plants

Sun, 03 May 2026 03:06:11 +0000

**2: Dominance of C4 Photosynthetic Pathway Plants—Why America’s Agriculture and Climate Conversations Are Shifting** Why are scientists and farmers increasingly pointing to photosystem C4 plants as key to future food security and environmental resilience? The dominance of this specialized photosynthetic pathway is emerging as a critical adaptation in changing climates. Among flowering plants, certain species—like corn, sorghum, sugarcane, and many tropical grasses—operate with a C4 mechanism that optimizes energy capture under intense sunlight and heat. This natural efficiency is sparking serious interest across agricultural research, climate science, and policy circles in the United States. The C4 pathway evolved as a survival edge in hot, dry environments, allowing plants to reduce water loss while maximizing carbon fixation. Unlike the more common C3 plants, C4 species thrive where temperatures rise and rainfall grows unpredictable—traits increasingly relevant across the southern and southwestern U.S. As droughts intensify and growing seasons shift, the geographic reach and yield advantages of C4 plants are drawing closer to the spotlight. **How C4 Photosynthesis Really Works**