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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Global Change and Photosynthesis Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #367228
Research Project: Optimizing Photosynthesis for Global Change and Improved Yield

Location: Global Change and Photosynthesis Research

Title: Genetic strategies for improving crop yields

Author
item BAILEY-SERRES, JULIA - University Of California
item PARKER, JANE - Max Planck Institute For Plant Breeding Research
item Ainsworth, Elizabeth - Lisa
item OLDROYD, GILES - Sainsbury Laboratory
item SCHROEDER, JULIAN - University Of California, San Diego

Submitted to: Nature
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/16/2019
Publication Date: 11/6/2019
Citation: Bailey-Serres, J., Parker, J.E., Ainsworth, E.A., Oldroyd, G., Schroeder, J. 2019. Genetic strategies for improving crop yields. Nature. 575:109-118. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1679-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1679-0

Interpretive Summary: The trajectory for crop yields by 2050 to nourish the world’s population is insufficient. Greater and more consistent crop production must be achieved alongside intensifying climatic stresses that limit yields, including shifts in pests and pathogens, precipitation, heat waves and other weather extremes. This paper considers the potential of plant sciences to address post-Green Revolution challenges and explore emerging strategies for enhancing sustainable crop production and resilience in a changing climate. We discuss how accelerated genetic improvement of crops can leverage naturally evolved traits and transformative bioengineering, and how greater mechanistic understanding can enhance resilient crop production systems.

Technical Abstract: The trajectory for crop yields by mid 21st century is predicted to be insufficient to nourish the world’s population. Yet this must be achieved with the backdrop of climatic variability that limits yields, due to shifts in pests and pathogens, precipitation, heat waves and other weather extremes. Here we consider the post-Green Revolution challenges, recent research advances, and emerging strategies for enhancing crop resilience to a dynamic environment. Accelerated genetic improvement must leverage naturally evolved traits and engineering driven from mechanistic understanding of traits that govern resilience and yield. Investment in plant sciences and crop improvement is essential to secure future harvests.