Plant Biology

More than 3 billion years ago, on an Earth entirely covered with water, photosynthesis first evolved in little ancient bacteria. In the following many millions of years, those bacteria evolved into plants, optimizing themselves along the way for various environmental changes. This evolution was punctuated around 30 million years ago with the emergence of a newer, better way to photosynthesize. While plants like rice continued using an old form of photosynthesis known as C3, others like corn and sorghum developed a newer and more efficient version called C4. The difference? C4 photosynthesis is 50% more efficient. Because of this, C4 plants can thrive in hot, dry climates and are among the most productive crop species in the world. However, around 95% of plants still use C3 photosynthesis, a less efficient form that makes them more vulnerable to drought and heat. Now, Professor Joseph Ecker, postdoctoral researcher Joseph Swift, and and collaborators at the University of Cambridge have made a breakthrough in understanding the evolution of C4 photosynthesis. The researchers can now use these findings to drive C4 photosynthesis in important C3 crops like rice, wheat, and soybeans, making them more productive and resilient against our warming climate.