The alarm photosynthesis process was first evidenced in pigweed Amaranthus hybridus plant in 2016 when A. hybridus leaves were exposed to drought conditions or exogenous application of abscisic acid. The same study showed  similar results in Dianthus chinensis, Pelargonium peltatum, and Portulacaria afra plants under drought stress. In 2018, the alarm photosynthesis process was exhibited in A. hybridus plants under controlled CO starvation conditions. In 2020, evidence of this process was shown in the Antarctic extremophile plant Colobanthus quitensis under CO limiting conditions.