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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Global Change and Photosynthesis Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #250348

Title: More Than Taking the Heat: Crops and Global Change

Author
item LONG, STEVEN - University Of Illinois
item Ort, Donald

Submitted to: Current Opinion in Plant Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2010
Publication Date: 6/1/2010
Citation: Long, S., Ort, D.R. 2010. More Than Taking the Heat: Crops and Global Change. Current Opinion in Plant Biology. 13(3):241-248.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Grain production per unit of land will need to more than double over this century to address rising population and demand. This at a time when the procedures that have delivered increased yields over the past 50 years may have reached their ceiling. Rising global temperature and more frequent droughts will act to drive down yields. In theory the projected rise in atmospheric [CO2] by mid-century would increase photosynthesis by over 30%, this is not realized in the field by current C3 crop cultivars. Emerging understanding of gene networks controlling these responses as well as specific knockout or over-expression targets are indicating opportunities for adaptation to these changes. Considerably more basic research, particularly under realistic field conditions are needed before these opportunities can be fully understood and validated. Given the time needed between discovery in a model plant and development of the trait or stacked changes in a commercial crop cultivar, there is an urgent need to vigorously pursue and develop these opportunities now.