New research into Plant Growth

Wonderful and thought-provoking news from Back40 at Crumb Trail:

Super Natural
Some textbook editing may be needed.

A team of scientists led by University of Connecticut plant biologist Roberto Gaxiola has discovered an overlooked genetic key to generating plants that are more productive, more drought resistant and can grow in soils low in nutrients. Their work is the first to successfully test in cells a 30-year-old hypothesis that explains the movement of a primary growth and development hormone through plants and is expected to prompt biology textbooks to be rewritten.

The researchers from UConn, Purdue University and Pennsylvania State University determined that one of three proton pumps found within plant cells, previously believed to have an extremely limited function, plays a critical role in plant root and shoot system growth and development by controlling cell division, expansion and hormone transport. Over-expressing the single gene that encodes this particular proton pump significantly enhances the transportation of the primary plant growth hormone, auxin, and results in plants with stronger, more extensive root systems and as much as 60 percent more foliage, the researchers report in the Oct. 7 issue of the prestigious journal Science.

"This discovery has the potential to revolutionize agriculture worldwide," said Gaxiola, an assistant professor-in-residence in UConn's plant science department. "This over-expression regulates the development of one of the most important parts of the plant, the roots. A plant with larger roots is a healthier and more productive plant, because, with a larger root system, the plant is able to get water and nutrients from larger soil areas.

Gary quotes some more from the article and closes with this:

Gee. I mean G.E. It's going to be real hard for neo-Luddites to continue to bad mouth genetic engineering. This isn't about evil corporations, herbicides, pesticides, patents or any of the other excuses used thus far to demonize a technology because of an application. This is about feeding the world using less resources and greening the waste lands.

This is too good. I can't see the defect but I'll try to remain calm while this stuff is verified.

Golden Rice provides Vitamin A to people who have no other good source. Round-up Ready crops allow for reduced till farming and a much lower use of herbicides. What do the anti-G.E. Luddites have against benefiting people? Is it because they do not have the mental tools to understand the science involved? We don't need no steenking Science -- this is Gaia we are talking about here bub...