Exploring the potential of modifying leaf colour to increase rice productivity via improving photosynthesis and source-sink relationships

Summary

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) feeds over half of the world's population, standing as a cornerstone of global food security. However, with challenges like population growth and climate change, traditional methods for improving rice yields have plateaued. The next step in boosting productivity lies in enhancing photosynthesis. One approach is modifying leaf colour to optimize light absorption and canopy carbon gain.

My study investigates the effects of leaf-colour modification on rice photosynthesis, focusing on various genetic backgrounds and traits like stay-green and yellow-leaf. Results indicate that leaf-colour modification can indeed enhance photosynthesis, but it necessitates a careful balance of nitrogen distribution from leaf to canopy. My research also delves into how these changes impact source-sink relationships during grain filling, linking sub-foliar and whole-plant scales with nitrogen budgets. These findings revealed the versatile roles of nitrogen as a regulatory mechanism across scales following leaf-colour modification, thereby shedding light on a promising strategy for improving rice yields in the context of evolving agricultural needs.