A significant discovery about the mechanisms by which plants open and close their stomata could lead to new methods of protecting crops from the effects of climate change, particularly the rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. While breathing is often taken for granted as an involunt
, have discovered a previously unknown molecular pathway that plants use to control their intake of carbon dioxide. The researchers believe that by utilizing this mechanism, it could be possible to improve the water-use efficiency and carbon intake of plants, which is crucial as the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere continue to rise. In light of this, the team has filed a patent and is exploring ways to apply their findings to the development of tools for crop breeders and farmers.
“The response to changes is critical for plant growth and regulates how efficient the plant can be in using water, which is important as we see increased drought and rising temperatures,” said Julian Schroeder, Torrey Mesa Research Institute chair in plant science at UC San Diego, who led the new research.
“Finding that the CO2 sensor in plants is made up of two proteins was enlightening and may be a reason the mechanism hadn’t been identified until now,” Schroeder said. “NSF support over the last two decades was critical to locating this elusive pathway.”
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe: Researchers Use High-Powered Lasers to Study Magnetic ReconnectionScientists use powerful laser beams to create miniature solar flares in order to study the process of magnetic reconnection. Scientists employed twelve high-powered laser beams to simulate miniature solar flares in order to investigate the underlying mechanisms of magnetic reconnection, a fundament
Read more »
Mathematicians Discovered a New, Much Faster Way to Multiply Large NumbersThe mathematicians solved an algorithmic mystery that has gone unsolved for almost half a century.
Read more »
These ‘green pea’ galaxies might have helped to end the Universe’s dark ageJWST has spotted three tiny, distant galaxies that could solve a long-standing cosmic mystery.
Read more »
New 'Poker Face' Trailer Spotlights the Murder Mystery Series' Incredible Guest StarsThe new trailer for Rian Johnson’s Natasha Lyonne-led mystery series PokerFace features, Stephanie Hsu, Jameela Jamil, Judith Light, Ron Perlman, and more! Watch it here:
Read more »
Medical Mystery, Solved: Why Was I Dizzy and Out of Breath?My body wasn’t working properly, but tests kept showing that I was fine.
Read more »
World’s Oldest Meal Helps Unravel Mystery of Our Earliest Animal AncestorsScientists from The Australian National University (ANU) have uncovered new insights into the physiology of our earliest animal ancestors by studying the contents of the last meal consumed by the Ediacara biota, the world's oldest large organisms dating back 575 million years. The research, publi
Read more »