CABBI Engineers Bioenergy Crops for Improved Water Efficiency

A pair of studies conducted by researchers from the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) show the potential of genetic engineering in improving water use efficiency (WUE) in climate-friendly C4 bioenergy crops without negative effects on yield. Their studies are published in the Journal of Experimental Botany.

In their first study, the CABBI team improved WUE in sorghum by inserting a gene that modifies the developmental pattern and reduces the number of stomata on the leaves. This approach minimizes water loss in sorghum plants without affecting photosynthesis or biomass production. In the second study, the researchers found that the remaining pores opened wider when stomatal density was reduced in sugarcane and other C4 crops.

“Overcoming water limitations to crop production is really very central to achieving our mission of underpinning a profitable, sustainable, and resilient bioeconomy,” said Dr. Andrew Leaky, Director of CABBI. The findings of the study address challenges in crop research associated with enhancing WUE in plants, such as reduced inherent productivity, photosynthetic carbon gain, and growth rate. “We're taking the plants that already have an advantage as crops and then potentially making them even better without any drag on carbon gain,” Dr. Leaky said.

For more information, read the article from CABBI.