via www.fcps.edu
Crops with improved yields could more easily become a reality, thanks to a development by scientists.
Researchers studying a biological process that enables tiny green algae to grow efficiently have taken the first steps to recreating the mechanism in a more complex plant.
Their findings could lead to the breeding of high yield varieties of common crops such as wheat, rice and barley.
Concentrating carbon
Algae cells are known to have a specialised mechanism that boosts their internal concentration of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.
This process supports other mechanisms that convert this store of carbon into the sugars the cells need to grow.
Many staple crops, and nearly all vegetables, have a less efficient method of photosynthesis. They cannot actively raise their internal concentrations of CO2 in the same way as algae.
If crops could be developed using the concentrating mechanism found in algae, they could have a much higher yield than existing varieties.
Component transplant
Plant experts at the University of Edinburgh studied components in algae that play a role in photosynthesis and found that they could function normally in other types of cells.
They then transferred the components to tobacco and cress plants, and found that the parts were able to locate at the correct places in the new cells.
Scientists were able to pinpoint the most critical components involved in efficient plant growth, and to gauge what further research might be needed for improved crops.
Read more: High yield crops a step closer
The Latest on: High yield crops
via Google News
The Latest on: High yield crops
- Confidence high for West Central Illinois farmerson August 5, 2022 at 12:32 pm
An agronomist says farmers in west central Illinois have had better than average growing conditions this year. DEKALB Asgrow’s Lance Tarochione says it’s been drier than other parts of the state. “But ...
- Iowa Yield Potential Still Good, but Weather Shaved Off Top End Yieldon August 5, 2022 at 8:51 am
Iowa started off the season with historically high crop ratings but conditions have recently dropped with the recent heat and dryness and that may have taken the top end off yields. Iowa’s corn rating ...
- UK drought: are farmers facing the crop failures of 1976 all over again?on August 5, 2022 at 8:41 am
Combined with record breaking temperatures, we are hearing talk of a drought comparable to the great drought of 1976, with fears of disruptions to public water supply and poor crop yields, especially ...
- U.S. sugarbeet crop looking pretty sweet pre-harvest after sour weather delayed spring plantingon August 5, 2022 at 3:51 am
In northern growing areas a cold, wet spring delayed planting, and then wind destroyed some of the acreage so farmers had to replant it. In western states, hail damaged acres shortly after they were r ...
- Oats could carve market as cash cropon August 4, 2022 at 1:15 pm
Oats used to be a common sight in Midwestern fields, but acreage of the crop has shrunk considerably. With fewer hungry horses used in production and livestock demand shifting, oats ...
- Tereos sees good sugar beet yield in France despite droughton August 4, 2022 at 12:50 am
France's largest sugar group Tereos said on Thursday it currently expects yields in this year's French sugar beet harvest to top the five-year average despite a lack of rainfall.
- Driest July in memory imperils Europe's cropson August 3, 2022 at 11:10 am
As much of Europe bakes in a third heatwave since June, fears are growing that extreme drought driven by climate change in the continent's breadbasket nations will dent stable crop yields and deepen ...
- Homegrown: Roundup of crop conditions as August beginson August 3, 2022 at 6:45 am
Roundup of crop conditions, weather trends and outlook and additional categorical updates, as the growing season progresses.
- Understand how plants react to high heaton August 3, 2022 at 1:00 am
With triple-digit temperatures this summer and even higher heat indices, grain crop growers need to know just how heat affects plants. The direct effect of high temperature on crop yields is small in ...
- COLUMN-Huge Brazil soy crop estimates for 2023 may not be excessive -Braunon August 2, 2022 at 3:42 pm
Brazil will not start planting its next soybean crop until later next month, but the world’s top producer and supplier seems well-positioned to chip into U.S. export share over the next year based on ...
via Bing News
