Much more than
green leaves

Children learn the basics of photosynthesis at school: Chlorophyll, a green pigment in leaves, allows plants to absorb energy from sunlight. They use this energy to make oxygen and sugar from the carbon dioxide in the air and water in the soil.

“But we now know that photosynthesis is much more complex and consists of roughly 170 independent steps,” says Wolfgang Koch, Group Lead Yield Traits at KWS. KWS is a consortium partner in the EU research project CAPITALISE, the aim of which is to gain a better understanding of photosynthesis and its processes.

The five-year project, which is backed by funding of around nine million euros, is supported by the Universities of Cambridge and Essex, the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, the Julius Kühn Institute and various industrial partners. Wageningen University is responsible for coordinating the project.

A key goal is to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis in plants and develop new varieties with such a trait. Depending on the plant and type of crop, the photosynthesis process differs as regards the metabolic pathway used for carbon dioxide fixation. Basically, photosynthesis can be divided into two main types: C3 and C4. In moderate regions like Central Europe, most crops – including cereals such as wheat and barley, but also sugarbeet and potatoes – use C3 photosynthesis. C4 photosynthesis, which evolved later and is better adapted to hot and dry regions, is widespread in plants such as corn, sorghum and millet.

Ten percent increase in yield thanks to improved photosynthesis

Trials with tobacco and rockcress have shown that photosynthesis can be improved significantly by adaptation and that may increase yields by more than ten percent. “We intend to apply these findings from the lab in the field and to other crops,” states Frank Ludewig. KWS is focusing first on barley and providing areas and its breeding expertise for validation trials as part of the project, for example.

The goal is to identify genetic variations with the desired trait that either occur naturally or are derived using conventional methods of mutagenesis. As part of that, it is necessary to take into account the complex interactions between physiological parameters and different environmental conditions.

“We have a keen interest in CAPITALISE, since the project has a strong focus on breeding and does not involve basic research. Instead, it’s about achieving concrete results farmers can apply,” says Wolfgang Koch. “Our objective is to develop new drought-tolerant varieties that will enable our farmers all over the world to obtain secure yields in the future, too,” adds Frank Ludewig.

To the project’s website |