The Next Green Revolution: Can Plant Hormone Therapy Feed the World?
For decades, scientists have sought ways to boost crop yields to meet the demands of a growing global population. Now, researchers at Colorado State University (CSU) believe they’ve unlocked a key to doing just that – not through genetic modification of yield directly, but by manipulating plant hormones to allow continued growth even when under attack from disease.
The Growth-Defense Tradeoff
Plants, much like humans, possess an immune system. When faced with threats like pests or diseases, they activate defenses. Yet, this activation comes at a cost: suppressed growth. This is a significant problem for food crops, where maximizing yield is paramount. A plant diverting energy to fight off infection isn’t putting energy into producing food.
CSU’s Breakthrough: Restoring Growth During Defense
CSU researchers have discovered a way to counteract this growth suppression. Their function, published in Current Biology, focuses on cytokinin, a plant hormone responsible for cell division. By genetically manipulating plants to maintain cytokinin levels even when their immune systems are activated, the team was able to restore growth without compromising disease resistance. In fact, the modified plants exhibited increased resistance.
“Only time will tell once it’s integrated into crops what effect this will have, but it does have the potential to be as big of a breakthrough as the Green Revolution 60 years ago in terms of food security,” said Cris Argueso, an associate professor in CSU’s Department of Agricultural Biology and senior author of the study.
A “Chemical Brain” and Phytohormone Interactions
Argueso describes plant hormones, known as phytohormones, as the plant’s “chemical brain.” These hormones regulate responses to environmental changes, including stress from pests and diseases. When stressed, cytokinin levels typically decrease, leading to the growth-defense tradeoff. The CSU team’s approach focuses on restoring these cytokinin levels, effectively allowing the plant to simultaneously defend itself and continue growing.
Faster and Easier Than Traditional Genetic Modification
The researchers’ method offers a potentially faster and simpler alternative to traditional genetic modification techniques. Instead of identifying and altering specific genes responsible for traits, they focus on manipulating the plant’s hormonal signaling pathways. Argueso compares this to prescribing a “pill” to correct a chemical imbalance, suggesting the mutations developed could be useful for agriculture for decades.
From Lab to Field: Collaborations and Future Testing
The team is actively seeking collaborations with breeding programs worldwide to test the effectiveness of their approach in various crops and regions. The initial research was conducted on Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant species, but the hope is to apply the findings to major food crops like wheat, corn, and soybeans.
A CSU Success Story: Student Research and Mentorship
The study was led by Grace Johnston, who began the research as an undergraduate student and completed it as her master’s thesis. Johnston’s journey highlights the importance of mentorship and the opportunities available at CSU. She credits Argueso’s guidance for her passion for plant biology and her success in securing prestigious fellowships from the National Science Foundation and the American Society of Plant Biologists.
“This is a CSU research success story,” Johnston said. “Cris took me on when I didn’t know anything about science, and here we are eight years later, and we have the opportunity to actually impact food security.”
What Does This Mean for the Future of Agriculture?
This research represents a significant step towards a more sustainable and secure food supply. By reducing the growth penalty associated with disease resistance, farmers may be able to increase yields without relying as heavily on pesticides. This could lead to a “green” Green Revolution, minimizing environmental impact while maximizing food production.
Did you know?
The original Green Revolution, starting in the 1960s, focused on developing high-yielding varieties of staple crops. While successful in increasing food production, it also relied heavily on fertilizers and pesticides.
FAQ
Q: What is cytokinin?
A: Cytokinin is a plant hormone that promotes cell division and growth.
Q: How does this research differ from traditional genetic modification?
A: This approach focuses on manipulating hormonal signaling pathways, which is faster and simpler than identifying and altering specific genes.
Q: What crops will this research be applied to?
A: Researchers hope to apply this finding to major food crops, including wheat, corn, and soybeans.
Q: What is the “growth-defense tradeoff”?
A: When a plant activates its immune system to fight off disease, its growth is typically suppressed. This research aims to overcome that tradeoff.
Q: What is a phytohormone?
A: Phytohormones are plant-specific hormones that regulate responses to environmental changes.
Want to learn more about the latest advancements in agricultural technology? Explore our other articles on sustainable farming practices.
