Scientists Reveal Series of Events that Led to Evolution of Plants from C3 to C4 Photosynthesis

A research collaboration that merges plant science and mathematics paved way to the series of events that allowed plants using the C4 pathway to evolve from C3 plants. The effort was initiated by Dr. Ben Williams and Dr. Iain Johnston. Williams assessed the presence or absence of 16 traits known to be important for the C4 pathway in 73 different plants, some using C4 photosynthesis, some using the C3 pathway, and others that seem to use a blend of both C3 and C4. Johnston then developed Bayesian modelling techniques to produce a model that predicts the steps associated with this highly complex evolutionary process. The model was underpinned by data occupying a 16-dimensional space with 65,536 nodes within that space.

The researchers' work on evolutionary pathways may help scientists to engineer current C3 crops to use the more efficient C4 pathway and because of their increased productivity, increase world food security. To do this, scientists have to mimic and speed up the natural variations that have taken place in wild species.

See the University of Cambridge's news release at http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/a-step-towards-increasing-crop-productivity.