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New Plant Research Leads to the Discovery of a Gene That Significantly Increases Seed Yield in Maize
Researchers from VIB-UGent have discovered a gene that significantly increases plant growth and seed yield in maize [sciencedaily.com]. Research into crop yield is crucial because of the increasing incidence of extreme weather conditions affecting agriculture. The results from laboratory research were confirmed during two-year field trials conducted in Belgium and the United States showing that this gene can increase seed yield in maize hybrids by 10 to 15%. The results of the greenhouse and field trials are published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
Nowadays, there is no crop in the world cultivated more than maize. Worldwide, 180 million hectares of maize are planted every year with a production of approximately 1 billion tons a year. Maize cultivation in Belgium has also made considerable advances over the last few decades, making maize, with a surface area of 240,000 hectares, one of the most commonly grown crops. Maize is primarily cultivated as animal feed, but also for human consumption and, to a lesser extent, as a source of biofuels. Research into new maize varieties is of great importance to maintain sufficient maize production in rising temperatures due to global warming. By selecting growth-enhancing genes, breeders can develop improved agricultural crops, which offer harvest security even in a changing climate.
PLA1 improves crop yield in maize
VIB-UGent scientists, headed by Prof. Dirk Inzé and Dr. Hilde Nelissen, are conducting research into the molecular mechanisms behind leaf growth in maize. Leaf development is a blueprint for the plant's growth processes. Indeed, knowing how leaves grow provides a great deal of information about the growth of the plant as a whole. The researchers discovered a gene in maize, named PLA1, which significantly increases plant growth and the size of plant organs such as the leaves, but also the cob. Dirk Inzé (VIB-UGent) says: "We have succeeded in significantly boosting biomass and seed production by increasing PLA1 expression in the plant, which leads to a yield increase of 10 to 15% on the same agricultural area."
