Increased SBPase activity improves photosynthesis and grain yield in wheat grown in greenhouse conditions

Driever, Steven M. and Simkin, Andrew and Alotaibi, Saqer and Fisk, Stuart J. and Madgwick, Pippa J. and Sparks, Caroline A. and Jones, Huw D. and Lawson, Tracy and Parry, Martin Afan John and Raines, Christine A. (2017) Increased SBPase activity improves photosynthesis and grain yield in wheat grown in greenhouse conditions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 372 (1730). ISSN 0962-8436

Abstract

To meet the growing demand for food, substantial improvements in yields are needed. This is particularly the case for wheat, where global yield has stagnated in recent years. Increasing photosynthesis has been identified as a primary target to achieve yield improvements. To increase leaf photosynthesis in wheat, the level of the Calvin–Benson cycle enzyme sedoheptulose-1,7-biphosphatase (SBPase) has been increased through transformation and expression of a Brachypodium distachyon SBPase gene construct. Transgenic lines with increased SBPase protein levels and activity were grown under greenhouse conditions and showed enhanced leaf photosynthesis and increased total biomass and dry seed yield. This showed the potential of improving yield potential by increasing leaf photosynthesis in a crop species such as wheat. The results are discussed with regard to future strategies for further improvement of photosynthesis in wheat.