News Plants

Borrowed genes raise hopes for fixing “slow and confused” plant enzyme

Giving plants better chemistry for photosynthesis might one day lead to higher crop yields

Two tobacco plants

EFFICIENTLY GREEN  These tobacco plants’ photosynthesis relies on a borrowed bacterial version of a major enzyme that replaces their own clunky one. The idea might someday make food crops more efficient.

Rothamsted Research

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Coaxing bacterial genes to replace a notorious slowpoke of an enzyme in tobacco plants could be a step toward raising yields in food crops.