Researchers from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and Michigan State
University have uncovered genetic variation in the unexplored DNA of the
photosynthetic and energy factories of Arabidopsis plants. Such variation
plays a crucial role in photosynthetic efficiency in plants and could pave
the way for more productive, climate-resilient crops.



For this research, the team developed a new method for generating so-called
cybrids on a large scale. In a cybrid, the original chloroplasts and
mitochondria are all replaced by those from another plant. The researchers
combined the chromosomes of one of four different Arabidopsis plants with
the chloroplasts and mitochondria of one of 60 other Arabidopsis plants and
created 240 unique cybrids. The plants came from a wide range of locations
un the Arabidopsis plant's natural range across Europe, Asia, and Africa.



The efficiency of plant photosynthesis in the field is low compared to solar
panels. While plants only utilize about 1% of solar energy, research
suggests this could be increased five to six times. Scientists at the Jan
IngenHousz Institute are working to unlock this potential. Traditionally,
efforts to improve photosynthesis focused on genetic variation in
chromosomes. However, the recent discovery of a new mechanism offers broader
possibilities for plant scientists to enhance energy production and
photosynthesis. This could lead to future crop varieties with improved
energy capture and utilization, boosting their growth and yield.



[www.wur.nl]
f-photosynthesis.htm