Unlocking an Ancient Oxygen Pathway in Arabidopsis Thaliana
A new pathway for producing oxygen in plants has been discovered in the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. This pathway, which is completely distinct from the one used by photosynthetic organisms, could lead to major advances in both basic and applied plant biology. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany, have identified a new gene, SORL1, that is responsible for oxygen production in Arabidopsis thaliana. The gene is part of a novel pathway through which oxygen is generated in the absence of photosynthesis, and could be a major breakthrough for plant biology. The discovery of the SORL1 gene could open up new avenues for understanding how plants produce oxygen, as well as improve crop yields and yield stability.
source: Phys.org