Photosynthetic control at the cytochrome b6f complex

Translational photobiology: towards dynamic lighting in indoor horticulture

Crop productivity depends on the ability of plants to thrive across different growth environments. In nature, light conditions fluctuate due to diurnal and seasonal changes in direction, duration, intensity, and spectrum. Laboratory studies, predominantly conducted with arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), have provided valuable insights into the metabolic and regulatory strategies that plants employ to cope with varying light intensities. However, there has been less focus on how horticultural crops tolerate dynamically changing light conditions during the photoperiod. In this review we connect insights from photobiology in model plants to the application of dynamic lighting in indoor horticulture. We explore how model species respond to fluctuating light intensities and discuss how this knowledge could be translated for new lighting solutions in controlled environment agriculture.

Photosynthesis: Genetic Strategies Adopted to Gain Higher Efficiency

The global challenge of feeding an ever-increasing population to maintain food security requires novel approaches to increase crop yields. Photosynthesis, the fundamental energy and material basis for plant life on Earth, is highly responsive to environmental conditions. Evaluating the operational status of the photosynthetic mechanism provides insights into plants' capacity to adapt to their surroundings. Despite immense effort, photosynthesis still falls short of its theoretical maximum efficiency, indicating significant potential for improvement. In this review, we provide background information on the various genetic aspects of photosynthesis, explain its complexity, and survey relevant genetic engineering approaches employed to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis. We discuss the latest success stories of gene-editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9 and synthetic biology in achieving precise refinements in targeted photosynthesis pathways, such as the Calvin-Benson cycle, electron transport chain, and photorespiration. We also discuss the genetic markers crucial for mitigating the impact of rapidly changing environmental conditions, such as extreme temperatures or drought, on photosynthesis and growth. This review aims to pinpoint optimization opportunities for photosynthesis, discuss recent advancements, and address the challenges in improving this critical process, fostering a globally food-secure future through sustainable food crop production.