Overexpression of Plasma Membrane Proton Pump Gene in Rice Promotes Less Fertilizer Use

Japanese researchers from Nagoya University, in partnership with Nanjing Agricultural University, developed a method to increase simultaneously the nutrient uptake through the roots and the stomatal opening of rice to increase its yield with less use of fertilizer.

The researchers created a new variety of field-grown rice paddy with an overexpression of the plasma membrane proton pump gene OSA1. Plasma membrane proton pump is also responsible for the opening of stomata in plants thereby increasing its photosynthetic rate. Experiments were conducted in four separate rice farms with different growth conditions and showed an increase in overall rice yield of over 30% against a wild rice variety with nitrogen fertilizer.

The research aims to solve not only the problem in food security but also the issues of the overproduction of carbon dioxide in the environment. It will also help the farmers increase their profits through higher yields and low fertilizer costs.

For more details, read the article in Nature.