Maize (corn) is one of the world’s most important crops. Now, scientists have engineered maize that grows faster and better withstands cold stress, a breakthrough that could be applied to other essential crops.
Why it matters: Global food security depends heavily on maize productivity, which is limited by photosynthetic efficiency. This breakthrough could lead to higher-yielding crops that are more resilient to climate challenges.
- Traditional maize struggles with slow Rubisco activity and cold sensitivity, limiting crop yields worldwide.
Key finding: Transgenic expression of three proteins – Raf2 and two Rubisco subunits – increased photosynthesis rates and improved cold tolerance in maize plants.
“By altering the expression of these proteins, we can unlock maize’s capacity to photosynthesize more efficiently and grow more robustly, even under challenging environmental conditions.”
Kathryn Eshenour, Boyce Thompson Institute researcher and study lead author
The process:
- Scientists overexpressed Rubisco assembly proteins
- Tested plants for photosynthetic efficiency and cold tolerance
- Found independent enhancement from different protein combinations
Keep in mind: While promising, this technology needs further testing before commercial deployment and regulatory approval.
Real-world impact: The findings could revolutionize not just maize production but also benefit other crucial crops like sorghum, millet, and sugarcane.
- This advancement comes at a critical time as climate change threatens global food production systems.
TL;DR
- Scientists boosted maize photosynthesis and cold tolerance by enhancing Rubisco-related proteins.
- The improvement could be applied to other major food crops with similar photosynthetic pathways.
- The technology offers a potential solution to increasing crop yields amid climate change challenges.
Dive Deeper
Read the Paper: Transgenic expression of Rubisco accumulation factor2 and Rubisco subunits increases photosynthesis and growth in maize
News Release: Transgenic expression of rubisco factors increases photosynthesis and chilling tolerance in maize