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Apr 29 2025
1A new agricultural breakthrough promises to significantly boost wheat yields by enhancing plants' internal sugar signaling systems. Researchers from Rothamsted Research, Oxford University, and the Rosalind Franklin Institute have demonstrated that applying a specific sugar-related molecule, Trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P), can increase wheat production by as much as 12%. The findings, recently published in Nature Biotechnology, offer a substantial improvement compared to the incremental gains typically seen through conventional breeding approaches.
T6P is a key signaling molecule in plants that functions similarly to how blood sugar is regulated in humans. It plays a vital role in governing plant metabolism, development, and growth. Importantly, it activates the metabolic pathway responsible for starch synthesis—one of the most crucial food carbohydrates worldwide.
The potential of T6P to enhance crop performance was first identified in research initiated at Rothamsted back in 2006. Following years of development, a large-scale, four-year field trial at test sites in CIMMYT, Mexico, and INTA, Argentina, confirmed the treatment’s effectiveness. Despite variations in rainfall—a leading factor in global crop yield unpredictability—T6P consistently improved harvest outcomes across all years.
Wheat’s genetic complexity poses major challenges for yield improvements through selective breeding. However, by bypassing genetic bottlenecks and chemically activating starch biosynthesis directly within the grain, T6P essentially acts as a molecular switch. This demand for starch simultaneously drives increased photosynthetic activity in the plant’s flag leaf, which contributes further to grain filling and yield.
Beyond increasing yield, T6P shows promise in enhancing the nutritional quality of wheat. The treatment has been observed to activate genes involved in amino acid and protein synthesis. This could help counteract the common issue of protein dilution in high-yield wheat varieties, potentially reducing the need for additional fertilizer inputs required to maintain baking quality.
“This journey from initial discovery to field application has taken 25 years,” said Dr. Matthew Paul of Rothamsted, who led the research alongside Professor Ben Davis of the Rosalind Franklin Institute and Oxford University. “It’s a testament to long-term scientific commitment, but we believe modern tools like AI can help accelerate future breakthroughs.”
To bring the innovation to market, Rothamsted and Oxford have launched a spinout company named SugaROx. Dr. Cara Griffiths, lead author of the research and SugaROx CEO, highlighted the significance of moving such advanced technology from laboratory to field: “This study demonstrates that novel plant treatments can meaningfully boost both yield and resilience—critical in an era of climate uncertainty.”
Professor Davis added, “This represents a paradigm shift. We’re not editing genes but directly manipulating molecular pathways—essentially creating a ‘drug for plants’ that delivers real-world agricultural impact.”
This discovery marks a major milestone in sustainable crop science, offering hope for a more productive and resilient agricultural future.
Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-04-sugar-treatment-boost-wheat-yields.html
This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.
