Improving Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the basis of plant growth, and improving photosynthesis can contribute toward greater food security in the coming decades as world population increases. Multiple targets have been identified that could be manipulated to increase crop photosynthesis. The most important target is Rub...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Plant physiology (Bethesda) 2013-08, Vol.162 (4), p.1780-1793
Main Author:	Evans, John R.
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Biological and medical sciences Carbon Dioxide - metabolism Chloroplasts Chloroplasts - metabolism Crops, Agricultural - growth & development Crops, Agricultural - metabolism Cyanobacteria - metabolism Electron Transport Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Growth (Plants) Kinetics Leaves Models, Biological Nitrogen Oryza - genetics Oryza - metabolism Photons Photosynthesis Photosynthesis - physiology Plant breeding Plant Development Plant physiology and development Plants Plants, Genetically Modified Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase - genetics Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase - metabolism Rice Topical Review on Drought Adjustment Topical Reviews Topical Reviews on Photosynthesis Improvement Vegetation canopies Wheat
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Summary:	Photosynthesis is the basis of plant growth, and improving photosynthesis can contribute toward greater food security in the coming decades as world population increases. Multiple targets have been identified that could be manipulated to increase crop photosynthesis. The most important target is Rubisco because it catalyses both carboxylation and oxygenation reactions and the majority of responses of photosynthesis to light, CO 2 , and temperature are reflected in its kinetic properties. Oxygenase activity can be reduced either by concentrating CO 2 around Rubisco or by modifying the kinetic properties of Rubisco. The C 4 photosynthetic pathway is a CO 2 -concentrating mechanism that generally enables C 4 plants to achieve greater efficiency in their use of light, nitrogen, and water than C 3 plants. To capitalize on these advantages, attempts have been made to engineer the C 4 pathway into C 3 rice (Oryza sativa). A simpler approach is to transfer bicarbonate transporters from cyanobacteria into chloroplasts and prevent CO 2 leakage. Recent technological breakthroughs now allow higher plant Rubisco to be engineered and assembled successfully in planta. Novel amino acid sequences can be introduced that have been impossible to reach via normal evolution, potentially enlarging the range of kinetic properties and breaking free from the constraints associated with covariation that have been observed between certain kinetic parameters. Capturing the promise of improved photosynthesis in greater yield potential will require continued efforts to improve carbon allocation within the plant as well as to maintain grain quality and resistance to disease and lodging.
ISSN:	0032-0889 1532-2548