May-August
PSI researchers Kasia Glowacka, James Schnable, Marcin Grzybowski, and Seema Sahay have made an important discovery about how crops defend themselves against excess sunlight. While sunlight is crucial for crop survival, it can harm them if there's too much of it. Photoprotection is a built-in sunscreen for plants, that helps them tolerate high light. Essentially, it relies on interactions between the protein machinery harvesting light energy, called Photosystem II, and an energy overflow system that involves natural plant antioxidants and accessory proteins.
In their recent study, Kasia and crew investigated the genetic factors associated with photoprotection and Photosystem II efficiency in corn plants. They identified 18 unique genetic variants linked to these processes. Many of these genetic variants play roles in producing antioxidants or regulating gene expression. Six of the candidates were confirmed to have a role even in distantly-related model plant Arabidopsis.
These findings offer promising insights for future agricultural advancements. By understanding the genetic basis of photoprotection, researchers may develop new breeding strategies to improve plants' ability to withstand high light on sunny days while still efficiently using energy during limited light on cloudy days. This could lead to the development of more robust crops, ultimately benefiting agriculture and ensuring a more sustainable food supply.