Plants could use light even more effectively for food production
Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 08:50
in Biology & Nature
(Phys.org) -- Scientists from Wageningen University have concluded that it is possible to develop plants that produce even more food by reducing the level of pigments which make no contribution to photosynthesis. The conclusion is based on research into the effectiveness of photosynthesis in various light conditions, which was carried out in cooperation with the VU University in Amsterdam. The scientists discovered that leaf pigments not directly involved in photosynthesis ‘dissipate’ light by absorption rather than using it effectively. Their findings were published in the scientific magazine Plant Cell.