Scientists Take Step to Improve Crops’ Photosynthesis, Yields
Experiments showed that the absence of carbonic anhydrase did not interfere with photosynthesis, contrary to previously held views.
In order to feed a projected 9 billion people by 2050, farmers need to grow 50% more food on a limited amount of arable land. As a result, plant scientists are in a race against time to engineer crops with higher yields by improving photosynthesis.
Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) are known to photosynthesize more efficiently than most crops, so researchers are working to put elements from cyanobacteria into crop plants.
A new study describes a significant step towards achieving that goal. “Absence of Carbonic Anhydrase in Chloroplasts Affects C3 Plant Development but Not Photosynthesis,” published August 11 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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