Assessing the implications of climate change on physiology and productivity of fruit crops: insights, trends and mitigation

Massive releases of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere have recently made global climate change and growing climate variability a prominent worry. Climate change and horticulture are linked because climatic change primarily causes biotic and abiotic stress in plants. The perennial character of fruit crops makes the effects of climate change more apparent because short-duration plants are typically better able to adapt than perennials. The main impacts of changing climatic scenarios are variations in temperature and precipitation patterns, extreme weather events, and insect-pest epidemics. Fruit crops are influenced by climate change at several stages of maturation and growth, including blistering heat, low fruit set, poor fertilization, prolonged ripening, limited color development, reduced sugar content, inferior quality, and insufficient fruit production. The primary challenge facing fruit crops as a result of climate change is the disturbance of flowering and general phenology, which directly lowers production and quality. Furthermore, fruit production is becoming more erratic and input-intensive due to decreased chill hours in temperate regions, changing crop zones, and diminishing soil and water resources. The study compiles the latest scientific findings related to climate-induced changes in phenology, physiology, productivity, and quality of major fruit crops, along with suggested mitigation techniques.