title: Enhanced leaf photosynthesis as a target to increase grain yield: insights from transgenic rice lines with variable Rieske FeS protein content in the cytochrome b6 /f complex.
abstract: Although photosynthesis is the most important source for biomass and grain yield, a lack of correlation between photosynthesis and plant yield among different genotypes of various crop species has been frequently observed. Such observations contribute to the ongoing debate whether enhancing leaf photosynthesis can improve yield potential. Here, transgenic rice plants that contain variable amounts of the Rieske FeS protein in the cytochrome (cyt) b6 /f complex between 10 and 100% of wild-type levels have been used to investigate the effect of reductions of these proteins on photosynthesis, plant growth and yield. Reductions of the cyt b6 /f complex did not affect the electron transport rates through photosystem I but decreased electron transport rates through photosystem II, leading to concomitant decreases in CO2 assimilation rates. There was a strong control of plant growth and grain yield by the rate of leaf photosynthesis, leading to the conclusion that enhancing photosynthesis at the single-leaf level would be a useful target for improving crop productivity and yield both via conventional breeding and biotechnology. The data here also suggest that changing photosynthetic electron transport rates via manipulation of the cyt b6 /f complex could be a potential target for enhancing photosynthetic capacity in higher plants.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, 6-2-1 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan.|PRESTO and CREST, JST, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan.
authors.forename: Wataru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yamori
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Plant Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 981-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.|PRESTO and CREST, JST, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Terashima
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Plant Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 981-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Plant Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 981-8555, Japan.|PRESTO and CREST, JST, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan.
authors.forename: Amane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makino
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D045346:Cytochrome b6f Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D004579:Electron Transport; D008027:Light; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D045331:Photosystem I Protein Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D020524:Thylakoids / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D045331:Photosystem I Protein Complex; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D010940:Plant Proteins; D002734:Chlorophyll; D045346:Cytochrome b6f Complex
keywords: crop yield; electron transport; photosynthesis