Physiological effects of superchanging photosynthesis
2012
De Luna, A. | Karki, S., C4 Rice Center, Los Baños, Laguna (Philippines) | Covshoff, S., University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge (UK) | Gourk, U., Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf (Germany) | Coe, R. | Reyes, J. | Montecillo, F. | Melgar, R.J, | Realubit, C.M. | Castllo, M. | Libiternos, R. | Danila, F. | Lorenzana, G. | Dela Rosa, M. | Kohli, A. | Slamet-Leodin, I. | Hibberd, J., CA Rice Center, Los Baños, Laguna (Philippines)
Genetic transformation allows us to supercharge photosynthesis by inserting genes from maize that has a highly efficient C4 photosynthesis pathway, into rice which has a less efficient C3 photosynthetic pathway. The strategy offers the potential of increasing rice yields by up to 50% as well as improving water and nitrogen use efficiency. Inserting C4 genes into rice will significantly alter the physiology and biochemistry, and by studying the effect of these genes valuable information required to make a rice plant with a functional C4 pathway will be gained. The authors have successfully transformed 10 genes required for the C4 biochemical pathway into rice. They have also studied the effects of these on plant anatomy, morphology, and photosynthesis. Some genes have no distinguishable effects while others result in reductions in plant growth and photosynthetic rates. A large number of genes are required to produce a functional C4 pathway and only once we have introduced these genes into a single rice plant we will be able to evaluate the potential of increased photosynthetic efficiency leading to increased yield. A large scale breeding program is currently being undertaken to achieve this.
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