Tiny plants reveal big potential for boosting crop efficiency
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Scientists have long sought ways to help plants turn more carbon dioxide (CO₂) into biomass, which could boost crop yields and even combat climate change. Recent research suggests that a group of unique, often overlooked plants called hornworts may hold the key.
"Hornworts possess a remarkable ability that is unique among land plants: they have a natural turbocharger for photosynthesis," said Tanner Robison, a graduate student at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and first author of the paper recently published in Nature Plants. "This special feature, called a CO₂-concentrating mechanism, helps them photosynthesize more efficiently than most other plants, including our vital food crops."
At the heart of this mechanism is a structure called a pyrenoid, which acts as a microscopic CO₂ concentration chamber inside the plant's cells. The pyrenoid is a liquid-like compartment packed with the enzyme Rubisco, which captures CO₂ and converts it into sugar during photosynthesis. Surrounding the pyrenoid are specialized channels and enzymes that pump in CO₂, saturating Rubisco with its key raw material.
