Crop photosynthesis in future high carbon dioxide environment
Australian Grain Free Air CO2 Enrichment (AGFACE) experiment
The University of Southern Queensland, in
collaboration with the University of Melbourne,
the Department of Environment and Primary
Industries Victoria, to understand the crop
response to future climate conditions.
Problem
This understanding can be used to improve the
crop adaptation to climate stress.
Atmospheric CO2 concentration has increased by
To find out more
Dr Saman Seneweera
[email protected]
Centre for Crop Health, USQ
Despite [CO2] having a negative impact on the
Stagnating plant yields over the past few decades is
a major challenge facing plant scientists globally.
The
next
step
achieved
by
in
yield
enhancement
increasing
plant
can
be
photosynthesis.
more than 35% since the industrial revolution.
atmospheric process, it is the primary substrate for
photosynthesis and thus plant growth. Research
findings
elevated
suggest
CO2
that
crop
concentration
yield
response
varied
within
to
the
species as well as between the species, but there is
very limited understanding of these responses
capture into improve the crop yield potential.
Solution
A team at the Centre for Crop Health (CCH) and the
National
Centre
for
Engineering
in
Agriculture
(NCEA) are studying the genetic basis of crop
response to high [CO2]. The particular aim is to
develop crops with higher yields by improving
photosynthesis. Large wheat and rice populations
are screened for photosynthesis. Further, selected
accession
lines
are
subject
to
detailed
characterization of photosynthesis related genetic
and physiological properties. These physiological
and molecular traits can then be incorporated into
crop
breeding
programs
to
break
crop
yield
stagnation.
Demonstration
Plant
photosynthesis
atmospheric
[CO2]
demonstrated
using
in
response
to
concentration
LICO
6400
gas
changing
will
be
exchange