In Tennessee, some semi-arid plants use a specific type of photosynthesis known as crassulacean acid metabolism, or CAM, to conserve water and flourish in semi-arid climates. Now scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered the metabolic and genetic underpinnings that allow plants, such as the agave plant, to do so. Understanding this process at a basic level could lead to real world-applications in efforts to develop drought-resistant food and bioenergy crops, Xiaohan Yang, Ph.D., co-author of the study, explained to Bioscience Technology.
Category: Research
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