Researchers have identified a gene in poplar trees that can significantly increase plant growth and productivity. The gene, named Booster, has the potential to make plants grow taller and produce more biomass by improving their ability to capture sunlight.
The discovery was made after scientists studied trees grown in various environments and observed notable differences in their growth rates. Booster was found to enhance tree height by 30% in natural field conditions and up to 200% in controlled greenhouse environments.
Stephen Long of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Jerry Tuskan from Oak Ridge National Laboratory led the study, which focused on the black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa. This species is considered a promising candidate for biofuel production.
The Booster gene is unique because it is a chimeric gene, formed by the combination of three genetic sequences: one from a bacterium in the tree’s root zone, another from an ant linked to a fungus that infects the tree, and the third from Rubisco, a key protein in photosynthesis.
By boosting the expression of Booster, the researchers observed dramatic results: an increase of up to 62% in Rubisco content, a 25% rise in carbon dioxide uptake, 37% taller trees in field tests, and 88% more stem volume. In a greenhouse, trees grew up to twice as tall as those with lower levels of the gene.
In addition to its effects on poplars, the Booster gene also improved growth in Arabidopsis, a small flowering plant, increasing its biomass and seed output by 50%.
“Conserved chimeric genes like Booster are often dismissed as evolutionary remnants,” said Biruk Feyissa of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. “But our findings show that Booster plays a vital role in enhancing photosynthesis and helping plants thrive in variable light conditions.”
The Booster gene could have significant implications for improving the productivity of crops like soybeans, rice, wheat, and oats, all of which are part of a group called C3 plants. If similar results can be replicated in these crops, it could lead to higher yields without the need for more land, water, or fertilizer.
Tuskan noted that cultivating high-yielding, perennial bioenergy crops on marginal land could help meet the growing demand for biofuels, particularly for sectors like aviation that are hard to electrify.
The researchers are now testing Booster in different environments to assess its long-term effectiveness. They are hopeful that the discovery could revolutionize how we approach photosynthesis and plant growth.
For years, scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Illinois have been studying poplar trees as a sustainable source of biomass that does not compete with food crops. Through extensive genome studies and state-of-the-art screening techniques, they identified genes related to growth, carbon and nitrogen content, and efficient water use.
Looking ahead, scientists plan to explore Booster’s potential in a variety of crops and environmental conditions, with the aim of improving plant productivity globally. If successful, the gene could play a crucial role in addressing global food and energy challenges.
The study, published in Developmental Cell, is part of ongoing research supported by the Department of Energy’s Biological and Environmental Research Program.
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