Application of precise regulation of stomata in promoting plant photosynthesis and crop yield

Yin Wang
Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environment Sciences, Peking University, No.5 Yiheyuan Road Haidian District, Beijing, P.R.China 100871

Stomata are microscopic pores mainly on the leaf surface, which play an important role in plants gas-exchange. They provide the entrance for CO2, the substrate of photosynthesis, thus determine the plant growth and productivity. In the most plant species, except CAM (Crassulacean acid metabolism) plant, light induces leaf photosynthesis and stimulates stomatal opening, simultaneously. Therefore, the ability of stomata respond to light is closely related to leaf photosynthesis. Here, using Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, we found enhanced the light-induced stomatal opening via genetic modification may significantly promote leaf photosynthesis, and plant growth or crop yield. Then we evaluated the environmental plasticity of the transgenic plants. The results showed, collectively, under favorable conditions, especially when the stomatal movement is the main limiting factor of photosynthesis, the plant production of the transgenic plants was superior than the wild-type plants. However, under stress conditions, whether it was biotic or abiotic, the transgenic plants showed neither advantages nor inferiority, and grew as well as the wild-type plants. These advantages of the precise regulation on stomatal movement enable it to be a potential applicated biotechnology for future food security and sustainable agriculture.