A novel biostimulant could deliver increased wheat yields of up to 12%, according to researchers from Oxford University, Rothamsted, and the Rosalind Franklin Institute in a long-term study published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.
A novel biostimulant could deliver increased wheat yields of up to 12%, according to researchers from Oxford University, Rothamsted, and the Rosalind Franklin Institute in a long-term study published in the journal Nature Biotechnology. This is an order of magnitude greater than annual yield increases currently being achieved through breeding.
The biostimulant is based on trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P), a signalling molecule that regulates the plant equivalent of “blood sugar.” T6P acts as a molecular switch that prompts the plant to produce more starch, the world’s most significant food carbohydrate, and increases the rate of photosynthesis. It can be applied to a number of key food crops including wheat and rice.
The novel biostimulant was developed through years of collaborative research between Professor Ben Davis (Oxford University and now also The Rosalind Franklin Institute) and Dr Matthew Paul (Rothamsted). Earlier experiments in controlled environments looked promising, and this new study has confirmed that the application could deliver major yield improvements for wheat in field conditions. Overall, the treatment caused an average yield increase of +10.4%.
Read More: Newcastle University
