An international team of researchers has, for the first time, demonstrated that by fixing a common glitch in photosynthesis, a crop's yield could be improved by around 40 percent. The landmark study suggests optimizing a plant's photosynthetic efficiency could significantly increase worldwide food productivity.
Photosynthesis, the process by which a plant converts light energy into chemical energy, is not a wholly efficient process. A key stage in the photosynthesis process involves an enzyme called RuBisCO grabbing carbon dioxide molecules. However, around 25 percent of the time RuBisCO incorrectly collects oxygen molecules instead, creating a plant-toxic byproduct that disrupts the entire photosynthesis process. Photorespiration is the process plants use to remove these problematic byproducts.
"Photorespiration is anti-photosynthesis," explains Paul South, lead author on the new research. "It costs the plant precious energy and resources that it could have invested in photosynthesis to produce more growth and yield."
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
AAAAHHHHHH! So now this solves CO2 emissions!
ReplyDeleteLife is good!
Of they keep screwing around with plants, sooner or later we will end up with a huge famine. Control the food supply, you control the population.
ReplyDeleteNo more excess CO2, no more global warming and more oxygen for the planet, including the oceans. But wait, there's a down side, too.
ReplyDeleteGoody Goody! That'll mean so much more of the two-legged infestation the planet is suffering from!
ReplyDelete