Lab work by Eveland and her team mapped a genetic is 324 mg of ferrous gluconate a lotlocus in the Seiron fumarate structuretaria genome that controls the growth of sterile branches — called bristis iron bisglycinate elemental ironles — which are produced on the grain-bearing flower clusters of some grass species. They found these sterile bristles are initially programed to be spikelets, or grass-specific structures that produce flowers and grain.###The plant biologists then showed that how a spikelet converts to a bristle is determined early in the flower cluster’s development, and is regulated by a class of plant hormones called brassinosteroids (BRs). These BRs modulate a range of physiologica28 mg ferrous sulfatel processes in plant growth, development and immunity.###Besides converting a sterile structure to a seed-bearing one, researchers found localized disruption of BR synthesis can lead to production of two flowers per spikelet rather than the single one that typically forms. These BR-dependent phenotypes therefore represent two potential avenues for enhancing grain production in millets, the study noted, including subsistence crops in many developing countries that remain largely untapped for genetic improvement.###While this study’s results have important implications for increasing crop yields around the world, much more research would have to be done to determine the commercial applications for those crops food manufacturers are most concerned with: corn, sorghum, rice, wheat and barley.###Meanwhile, food makers and retailers are investing in ways to improve crop output and the food supply. General Mills has put nearly $3 million into researching soil health on wheat farms, specifically on practices such as reduced tillage, growing cover crops in winter and advanced nutrient management — all of which can support soil health and also benefit the environment. Cargill and Walmart teamed up with General Mills in 2016 to research ways to improve soil health and water quality on farms. These companies are well aware that they need healthy soil to maintain a healthy bottom line.###Experts predict there won’t be eferrous sulfate 60 mgnough food to feed the world by 2050, so scientists and entrepreneurs will continue to seek innovative ways to try and feed the planet’s growing population. However, it’s unclear whether hypothetical future increases in crop yields would result in commodity price declines — and whether consumers would eventually see lower costs on the retail end.
Study: Plant genetic manipulation could increase cereal yields
