Towards understanding the molecular basis of crop productivity

The aim of the Yield Booster website is to provide the scientific community with information on genes and molecular mechanisms that govern plant growth and productivity. Data on model plants (e.g. Arabidopsis) as well as crops are presented. With this website we hope to contribute to worldwide research aiming at improving crop productivity and food supplies.

By using model plants, such as Arabidopsis thaliana (thalecress) and Oryza sativa (rice), scientists world-wide start to unravel the mechanisms that control plant growth and productivity under both optimal and environmentally less favorable conditions, such as drought. Plant growth and stress tolerance are complex processes, but novel approaches collectively called “systems biology” allow us to better understand this complexity. As illustrated by this web site many key genes affecting crop yield and stress tolerance have been identified and spectacular increases in plant productivity have been obtained by using genetic engineering. In view of what is ahead, it is of utmost importance that the world adopts this technology and that these improved plant varieties are delivered to the poorest on earth.