Scientists have found a way to boost crop growth by as much as 40 percent by fixing a glitch in the photosynthesis process, according to a new study published in the journal Science. With current techniques to improve yields largely optimized — including using more pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation — the scientists argue that the new findings offer a breakthrough way for farmers to feed more people on less land.
Scientists have found a way to boost crop growth by as much as 40 percent by fixing a glitch in the photosynthesis process, according to a new study published in the journal Science. With current techniques to improve yields largely optimized — including using more pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation — the scientists argue that the new findings offer a breakthrough way for farmers to feed more people on less land.
The yield-costing inefficiency lies within the process of photorespiration. Plants use the enzyme Rubisco and sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into sugars that fuel plant growth and yield. But Rubisco is unable to reliably distinguish between CO2 and oxygen, and will mistakenly grab oxygen 20 percent of the time, resulting in a plant-toxic compound that must be recycled through the process of photorespiration. This process, however, is uses energy and reduces photosynthetic efficiency – a key determinant of yield potential – of some of the planet’s most important crops by 20 to 50 percent.
Read more at Yale Environment 360
Image: Four unmodified plants (left) grow beside four plants (right) engineered with alternate routes for photorespiration, which allow them to reinvest their energy and resources to boost productivity by 40 percent. CREDIT: CLAIRE BENJAMIN / RIPE PROJECT
