Setting the basis for engineering C3 and C4 crops to adapt to scenarios of future climate changes

• Grant number: 15/50272-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Regular Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2016
• End date: November 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Pant Physiology
• Agreement: Ohio State University
• Principal Investigator: Marcos Silveira Buckeridge
• Grantee: Marcos Silveira Buckeridge
• Principal researcher abroad: Ana Paula Alonso
• Institution abroad: Ohio State University, Columbus, United States
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This study aims at evaluating the physiological and metabolic responses of crops to global climate changes. Projections indicate an elevation of the atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) concomitantly with an intensification of drought for this century, will increase the challenges to food security. On the one hand, drought is a main environmental factor responsibleltor decreasing crop productivity and grain quality, especially when occurring during the grain-filling stage. On the other hand, elevated [CO2] is predicted to mitigate some of the negative effects of drought. Crops under investigation in this work are sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L Moench) a C4 grass with biotechnological relevance, and soybean (Giycine max) a C3 plant, which has important economical and nutritional values in many parts of the world. (AU)