March 16, 2011

US study to focus on genes and carbohydrate transport in corn 

University of Missouri researchers have received funding from the National Science Foundation to head a research team to study the genes that direct the movement of carbohydrates in corn.

This research may lead to higher yield, plants more resistant to drought, bigger plants and easier production of biofuels.

"When corn produces carbohydrates in the leaves, it transports sucrose, a type of sugar, to other parts of the plant, including the ears and roots," said David Braun, an associate professor in the Division of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Science and a member of the MU Interdisciplinary Plant Group. "By understanding how the movement of carbohydrates is regulated, we may be able to engineer plants that better meet the needs of farmers and consumers."

In future, researchers might be able to use this knowledge to create plants with certain qualities. For example, researchers can attempt to improve carbohydrate flow to ears to raise yield, or to the roots to make the plant more resistant to drought.

"Carbohydrate transport is one of the least understood but most important factors in plant development," Braun said. "This research has the potential to have a great effect on corn farming, not just for increasing yield, but on so many other aspects."

Braun thinks this research also may improve the making of biofuels. On top of carbohydrates being transferred all through the plant for growth, some sugar is changed to cellulose, an organic compound that makes up the plant cell walls. Cellulose is not as easy for processors to change into biofuel as compared to sucrose. Braun thinks this study may show possible methods to modify plants to store more of the carbohydrates as sucrose. With more sucrose in the plant, biofuels may become less expensive to produce and consumers might thus have to pay lower prices, leading to higher use.