Japanese researchers from Nagoya University, in partnership with Nanjing
Agricultural University, developed a method to increase simultaneously
the nutrient uptake through the roots and the stomatal opening ofrice to
increase its yield with less use of fertilizer.

The researchers created a new variety of field-grown rice paddy with an
overexpression of the plasma membrane proton pumppumpOSA1. Plasma
membrane proton pump is also responsible for the opening of stomata in
plants thereby increasing its photosynthetic rate. Experiments were
conducted in four separate rice farms with different growth conditions
and showed an increase in overall rice yield of over 30% against a wild
rice variety with nitrogen fertilizer.

The research aims to solve not only the problem in food security but
also the issues of the overproduction of carbon dioxide in the
environment. It will also help thefarmersincrease their profits through
higher yields and low fertilizer costs.

Plasma membrane H + -ATPase overexpression increases rice yield via
simultaneous enhancement of nutrient uptake and photosynthesis | Nature
Communications [www.nature.com]