New research has identified genes that enable plants to grow under stressful conditions, offering potential solutions for producing sustainable food crops amid global climate change. The study, led by the University of East Anglia (UEA), highlights the genes responsible for creating a unique anti-stress molecule known as dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP).
The findings reveal that most plants produce DMSP, but those that generate it in higher amounts can thrive in challenging environments, such as coastal areas with salty conditions.
Additionally, the research indicates that DMSP can help plants withstand various stressors, including drought. Plants can either be supplemented with DMSP or genetically modified to produce their own. This method could be particularly beneficial for improving agricultural productivity in nitrogen-poor soils.
This study marks the first time scientists have detailed the genes plants use to produce DMSP, explained the reasons for its production, and demonstrated how DMSP can enhance plant stress tolerance. The results have been published in the journal Nature Communications.
Professor Jon Todd from UEA’s School of Biological Sciences expressed enthusiasm about the study’s implications. He noted, “Our study shows that most plants produce the anti-stress compound DMSP. However, the saltmarsh grass Spartina is unique because it accumulates high levels of this molecule. This finding is significant, as Spartina saltmarshes are vital for DMSP production and contribute to the climate-cooling gas dimethylsulfide through microbial activity.”
Dr. Ben Miller, the study’s lead author and fellow researcher at UEA, emphasized the discovery’s importance. He stated, “This research enhances our understanding of how plants tolerate stress and opens new paths for increasing the salinity and drought tolerance of crops. This is crucial for improving agricultural sustainability as we face the challenges of climate change.”
The research team included experts from UEA’s School of Biological Sciences, School of Chemistry, Pharmacy, and Pharmacology, as well as Ocean University of China. They focused on the saltmarsh cordgrass species Spartina anglica, known for its high DMSP levels, and compared its genes with those of other plants that produce DMSP at lower concentrations. Many of these low DMSP-accumulating plants include significant crop species such as barley and wheat.
The team identified three key enzymes involved in the high production of DMSP in Spartina anglica. This compound plays essential roles in stress protection and is critical for global carbon and sulfur cycling, along with the production of climate-active gases. Saltmarsh ecosystems dominated by Spartina cordgrasses are particularly important for DMSP production, as these plants can synthesize it in unusually high concentrations.
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