Emerging Technologies and Management of Crop Stress Tolerance

Chapter 19

Climate Changes and Potential Impacts on Quality of Fruit and Vegetable Crops

Leonora M. Mattos, Celso L. Moretti, Sumira Jan, Steven A. Sargent, Carlos Eduardo P. Lima and Mariana R. Fontenelle

Climate change will have profound effects on food production. Temperature increase and the effects of greenhouse gases are among the most important issues associated with climate change. The production and quality of fresh fruit and vegetable crops can be directly and indirectly affected by exposure to high temperatures and elevated levels of carbon dioxide and ozone. The rise in atmospheric CO₂ levels due to global climate change and horticultural practices has both direct and indirect effects on secondary metabolite synthesis in plants. Temperature ...