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Researchers on the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) have recognized a gene that facilitates within the greening of vegetation by enjoying a vital position in regulating the degrees of protochlorophyllide

Highlights

• The synthesis of chlorophyll in plants is a lengthy, multi-step process.
• When a seedling emerges from under the soil it must quickly synthesize chlorophyll to start supporting its own growth.
• In order to facilitate the quick synthesis of chlorophyll, plants make a precursor of chlorophyll called ‘protochlorophyllide’ in the dark, which glows red when blue light is shone on the plant.
• As soon as the plant comes out into the light from under the soil, light-dependent enzymes convert protochlorophyllide to chlorophyll.
• The two proteins oppositely regulate the ‘BBX11’ gene to maintain optimum levels of ‘BBX11’.

Benefits of the research

• The study could have tremendous implications in the agriculture sector in tropical countries like India and can help provide leads to optimize plant growth under stressful and rapidly changing climatic conditions.
• This often leads to severe distress among the farming community as indicated by the high number of farmer suicides in Maharashtra for the past several years.
• This study can provide leads to optimize plant growth under these stressful conditions.

Source: The Hindu