Using SP1 to control plastid development and yield in crop plants

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With the human population growing rapidly and set to reach 9 billion by 2050, and because of the ever increasing pressure on natural resources, the drivers for increased crop yield 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 previous BBSRC-funded research on a small model plant called thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), we 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 that dependent on chloroplast-linked functions, including grain development, seedling establishment, and leaf aging. Optimization of these parameters may enable significant gains in crop yields. The research will be conducted using an important crop model. An important objective of the project will be to achieve of proof-of-principle of the SP1 technology in crop plants, which ultimately may lead to the commercial development of technology for the benefit of society.