Investigating Phosphate Starvation in Plants Using Bioluminescence

A reliable food source is essential for life. To meet the requirements of the world’s growing population, food production will likely need to double by 2050 [1]. Overcoming this challenge will require the optimisation of crop growth, for example by   improving efficiency and driving down costs. This can be achieved in several ways. Firstly, many crops are affected by pests and disease, reducing the usable fraction of crop yield. Secondly, plants need a plentiful supply of various elements to grow, including sunlight, water and organic and inorganic molecules containing elements such as nitrogen, phosphorous (organically utilised as phosphate) or potassium. They also require space, management and maintenance to grow quickly and  efficiently. Hence, strategies to mitigate any harmful or inhibitory effects caused by these factors would increase efficiency and yield.

To aid with this process, researchers in our group and others around the world are investigating how plants respond to drought, nutrient starvation and stress. In this way, we hope to understand how to encourage crops to grow better, even under challenging environmental conditions.