Plant growth without light control

Synthetic photoreceptor stimulates germination and development irrespective of exposure to light; results of researchers from Japan and Karlsruhe are published in the Plant Cell journal

2012-05-17

(Press-News.org) "The plants developed in the dark as if they were in light," says the Director of the studies Tilman Lamparter, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The seeds and seedlings of thale cress were fed with a synthetic substance named "15Ea-phycocyanobilin". In the plant cell, this substance replaces the natural, photoactive component of the photoreceptor, the "phytochromobilin". Incorporation of 15Ea-PCB activates the photoreceptor and the plant is made believe it is exposed to light. In spite of the darkness, model plants germinate and grow similar to a control group exposed to light. "It was shown for the first time that synthetic substances can cause light effects in entire plants."

Synthetic photoreceptors might be valuable tools for research, as they facilitate studies of many chemical plant processes compared to conventional genetic engineering methods. Apart from growth, photosynthesis can also be investigated much better. "Blossoming of flowers or development of the photosynthesis system may be controlled much better in the future," predicts Lamparter. "These findings would be of high use for agricultural industry in the cultivation of flowers or biomass production, for instance." In the future, it is planned to study related aspects in further detail.

INFORMATION:

Publication in The Plant Cell: http://www.plantcell.org/content/early/2012/05/10/tpc.111.094656

More information on Lamparter's working group.

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is a public corporation according to the legislation of the state of Baden-Württemberg. It fulfills the mission of a university and the mission of a national research center of the Helmholtz Association. KIT focuses on a knowledge triangle that links the tasks of research, teaching, and innovation.

This press release is available on the internet at www.kit.edu.

The photo of printing quality may be downloaded under www.kit.edu or requested by mail to presse@kit.edu or phone +49 721 608-47414. The photo may be used in the context mentioned above exclusively.

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