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The long and tortuous path towards improving photosynthesis by engineering elevated mesophyll conductance
Alistair Leverett1, Johannes Kromdijk1,2
1Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Plant, Cell & Environment
|May 28, 2024
Summary
Improving crop yields requires understanding mesophyll conductance (gm). This review highlights limitations in estimating gm and assesses its potential impact on crop performance, urging further research.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Crop Science
- Photosynthesis Research
Background:
- Global food demand necessitates increased crop yields.
- Bioengineering crops for higher photosynthetic efficiency is a key strategy.
- Enhancing mesophyll conductance (gm) is proposed to improve CO2 delivery to chloroplasts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize methodological limitations in estimating mesophyll conductance (gm).
- To critically assess the quantitative impact of elevated gm on crop assimilation rates.
- To guide future research for more reliable gm estimation and crop improvement.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing methodologies for estimating gm.
- Critical analysis of uncertainties and assumptions in gm measurements.
- Assessment of theoretical models predicting the effect of gm on crop assimilation.
Main Results:
- Significant methodological limitations exist in current gm estimation techniques.
- Uncertainties and assumptions can substantially affect gm values.
- The precise quantitative effect of elevated gm on crop assimilation rates requires further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Accurate estimation of mesophyll conductance (gm) is crucial for realizing crop yield gains.
- More theoretical modeling is needed to validate gm as a viable target for crop improvement.
- Future research should focus on mitigating uncertainties in gm estimation to guide effective breeding strategies.
Keywords:
carbon isotopeschlorophyll fluorescencecrop improvementgas exchangelimitationsmesophyll conductanceMore Related Videos
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