Page 22 - AWA Vol.42-No3

eduCATION IN AGrICulTure

danforth Center Scientist leads New department of energy Grant
to unlock the Secrets of Sorghum Photosynthesis

A new five-year grant from the U.S. De- cation; Dr. Xuehua Zhong (Washington
partment of Energy's (DOE) Office of University in St. Louis) on epigenomics;
Biological and Environmental Research Dr. David Braun (University of Missouri)
will fund a multi-institutional effort to im- on carbohydrate partitioning; Dr. Jianlin
prove how sorghum captures and man- (Jack) Cheng (University of Missouri) on
ages energy through photosynthesis. AI and machine learning; and Dr. Shu-ou
The $5.7-million project is led by Dr. Ru Shan (California Institute of Technology)
Zhang, Associate Member and Principal on chaperon proteins with roles in pho-
Investigator at the Donald Danforth Plant excess sugar faster than it can be trans- tosynthesis. Field experiments will be
Science Center. ported to the rest of the plant, triggering conducted at the Danforth Center’s Field
a feedback loop that suppresses photo- Research Site in St. Charles, Missouri.
The Danforth Center was founded on synthesis, especially during full sunlight Laboratory analyses will be distributed
the premise that fundamental plant sci- conditions in the field. across partner institutions according to
ence — understanding how plants grow, each team’s specialized expertise, with
adapt, and produce energy — is essential “Sorghum has remarkable potential as all data ultimately integrated through AI
to addressing global challenges in food, a bioenergy crop, but we still don't fully and machine learning.
fuel, and climate. This project takes that understand the molecular and cellular
premise into the field: by uncovering why rules governing how it manages photo- “Ru’s project is the Danforth Center vi-
sorghum, one of the world's most impor- synthesis under challenging field condi- sion in action — rigorous, collaborative,
tant bioenergy feedstocks, loses produc- tions and distributes the sugars its leaves and consequential,” said Dr. Giles Ol-
tivity under heat, drought, and fluctuating make," said Dr. Zhang. "This project lets droyd, president of the Donald Danforth
light, the team aims to generate knowl- us dig into those mechanisms at a sys- Plant Science Center. “By decoding how
edge that can be translated directly into tems level — combining field physiology, sorghum photosynthesizes under re-
more resilient, higher-yielding crops. cell-type-specific molecular analyses, al-world stress, this team is laying the sci-
advanced 3D imaging, and AI-driven entific foundation for crops that can thrive
At the heart of the challenge is photo- modeling — so we can identify the pre-
synthesis, the process by which sorghum cise points to intervene and design plants as our weather grows more unpredict-
able. That is mission-critical work, and we
converts sunlight and carbon dioxide into that are genuinely smarter about regulat-
sugars. This process depends on precise ing photosynthesis and carbon distribu- are proud that it is happening here.”
coordination between two distinct leaf tion under stress.” While focused on sorghum, the in-
cell types: mesophyll and bundle sheath sights generated are expected to transfer
cells. Under stress, that coordination is Dr. Zhang assembled co-investigators broadly to similar crops such as maize
compromised — and a key hypothesis whose expertise spans the full scope of and sugarcane, and to inform photosyn-
driving the research is that leaves ex- the research: Dr. Tessa Burch-Smith (Dan- thesis improvement in different kinds of
posed to high levels of light accumulate forth Center) on cell-to-cell communi- crops such as wheat and rice.
Circle 27 on enquiry card
IAS Probationers Visited to CPrI Shimla, to explore role of
Agricultural research in Policy and development

In a significant academic exposure country.
aimed at bridging governance and sci- The IAS probationers actively partici-
entific research, a group of Lal Bahadur pated in the discussions, raising queries
Shastri National Academy of Administra-
tion, Mussorie- Indian Administrative Ser- on policy implementation, technology
vice (IAS) probationers visited the ICAR- adoption, and the challenges faced in
Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), bridging the gap between research and
Shimla, on Morch 19 as part of their Win- field application. The interactive nature
ter Study Tour. The visit was organised un- Heads of various divisions Dr Jagdev of the session enabled a meaningful ex-
der the trainees' study tour to acquaint fu- Sharma, Dr Sanjeev Sharma, Dr Alok Ku- change of ideas between the trainees and
ture administrators with premier research mar, Dr Tanuja Buckseth, Dr Dharmendra scientists. As part of the visit, the proba-
institutions contributing to India's agricul- Kumar, Dr Hemant and Mr Rajat Sethi tioners visited aeroponics laboratories
tural growth and food security. made detailed presentations covering and research facilities within the institute.
Dr Brajesh Singh, Director CPRI high- crucial areas such as crop improvement, They observed firsthand the scientific
processes involved in seed production,
lighted the institute's pioneering role plant protection, seed technology, Post disease diagnostics, and extension activ-
in potato research, including the de- harvest Technologies, social sciences ities. The exposure provided them with
velopment of improved varieties, dis- and CPRI Administration. The scientists practical insights into how research inno-
ease-resistant strains, and advanced seed elaborated on ongoing research proj- vations are translated into tangible bene-
production technologies that have signifi- ects, technological interventions, and the fit for farmers and other stakeholders.
cantly contributed to enhancing farmers' dissemination of innovations to farmers
income and productivity. across different agro-climatic zones of the Circle 28 on enquiry card
20 Vol. 42 No. 3