Spraying for Yield

农作物产量必须在未来35年翻一番，才能满足预计的全球粮食需求。然而，主要作物的年产量增长速度低于所需速度。在之前BBSRC资助的基础上，我们开创了新技术，显著提高了小麦的籽粒大小和总体产量。海藻糖6-磷酸（trehalose 6-phosphate, T6P）介导的糖信号机制调控了植物体内蔗糖的分配和籽粒中蔗糖向淀粉的转化。通过植物科学-化学合作，已经开发出可紫外光切割的T6P前体，使T6P在小麦籽粒中增加，以增加蔗糖转化为淀粉，增加籽粒大小和产量高达20%。为了支持将这一基础研究转化为商业化，该项目将：1)在全球小麦生产的典型田间环境中证明其有效性；2)开发适合大规模应用的T6P前体的规模化合成方法。

Crop yields must double in the next 35 years to meet projected global food demand. However, annual yield improvements of major crops are increasing below the rate required. We have pioneered new technology building on previous BBSRC funding that significantly increases grain size and overall yield of wheat. The sugar signalling mechanism mediated by trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) regulates the allocation of sucrose within the plant and the conversion of sucrose to starch in grain. Through a plant science-chemistry collaboration, UV-cleavable T6P precursors have been developed that enable T6P to be increased in wheat grain to increase conversion of sucrose into starch increasing grain size and yield by up to 20%. To support translation of this fundamental research into commercialisation the project will: 1) to demonstrate efficacy in field environments typical of global wheat production; 2) to develop methodology for scale up synthesis of T6P precursor suitable for large-scale application.