Model-directed bioengineering strategy for accelerating crop improvement (2021-2024)

The aim is to use an advanced mechanistic crop model to investigate the interacting plant physiological processes that define yield consequences, using a sorghum model. This will involve unravelling the complex relationship between leaf gas exchange properties and crop field performance. Through a unique combination of model prediction and gene editing to target the photosynthetic pathway and stomata, the research is expected to gain a deep mechanistic understanding of the underpinning processes and drive the transfer of promising bioengineering targets into crops. The research is expected to discover new avenues for crop improvement, and significantly benefit crop breeding and food production capacity.