University of Edinburgh scientists have created a new computer model that
shows how plants grow under varying conditions, giving fresh insights into
developing crops that could thrive in changing climates. Scientists built
the model to investigate how variations in light, day length, temperature,
and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere influence the biological pathways that
control growth and flowering in plants.

They found differences in the way some plant varieties distribute nutrients
under varying conditions, leading some to develop leaves and fruit that are
smaller but more abundant than others. Professor Andrew Millar, of the
University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences, who led the study,
said: "The more we understand the underlying reasons governing plant growth
in different varieties, the better equipped we will be to breed crop
varieties with stable, high yields in the future."

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