Application of the plastidic E3 ligase SP1 in crop improvement, using tomato and rice as models

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The human population is growing rapidly and set to reach 9bn by 2050, and there are ever-increasing pressures on natural resources. Thus, the drivers for increased crop yields and productivity, and for resilience to climate change and sub-optimal growing conditions, are stronger than ever. To meet these demands it will be essential to develop new, improved crop varieties. Through research on the model plant Arabidopsis, we recently made a significant breakthrough that may have important implications for crop yields and food security. We discovered a gene called SP1 that controls many important aspects of plant development. More specifically, SP1 regulates the development of structures inside plant cells called chloroplasts, which are responsible for photosynthesis. By altering SP1 activity in crops, we believe that we will be able to exert control over diverse aspects of crop development, including fruit ripening, grain development, stress tolerance, leaf aging, and crop yield.