BBX11 GENE: GREENING OF PLANTS
Context
- Recently, the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) has recognized the BBX11 gene that facilitates the greening of crops.
More about news.
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- About BBX11 Gene:
- The researchers discovered a mechanism where two proteins oppositely regulate the BBX11 gene to maintain optimum ranges of BBX11.
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- BBX11 plays a vital role in regulation of the amount of protochlorophyllide synthesized by the plant.
- Protochlorophyllide is an intermediate in the synthesis of chlorophyll.
- If it is less, plants are unable to efficiently green in order to harvest sunlight and if the amount of protochlorophyllide is more, then photobleaching occurs.
- Photobleaching is loss of colour by a pigment.
- The quantity of protochlorophyllide synthesised needs to be proportional to the variety of enzymes available to transform them to chlorophyll.
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- It is very important to regulate the amount of protochlorophyllide synthesized by the plant.
- Synthesis of Chlorophyll:
- Chlorophyll is the green pigment in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria that absorbs sunlight and uses its energy to synthesise carbohydrates from Carbon-di-Oxide (CO2) and water.
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- The synthesis of chlorophyll in plants is a lengthy, multi-step process.
- When a seedling emerges from under the soil it must quickly synthesise chlorophyll to start supporting its own growth.
- In order to facilitate quick synthesis of chlorophyll, plants make a precursor of chlorophyll called ‘protochlorophyllide’ in the dark, which glows red in blue light.
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- As soon as the plant comes out into the light from under the soil, light-dependent enzymes convert protochlorophyllide to chlorophyll.
Implications:
- This discovery has many implications within the agriculture sector in tropical nations like India and can assist present results in optimising plant progress in frequently changing weather conditions.
- Due to the quickly altering weather conditions, farmers in a number of states in India, particularly in Maharashtra, are struggling with large losses in crop yields.
- This often leads to severe distress among the farming community as indicated by the high number of farmer suicides in Maharashtra for the past several years.
- Major Reasons for Crop Failure: Severe drought, high temperature and high light.
Young seedlings emerging out of the soil are extremely sensitive to high irradiance of light. This study can provide leads to optimise plant growth under these stressful conditions.