Groundbreaking Discovery by Scientists Promises Major Boost to Global Food Supply: An Unexpected Breakthrough!

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, led by Ken Shirasu, have made a significant discovery in plant immunity. They found a way to use cold shock proteins (CSPs) to help plants better defend themselves against pathogens.

CSPs are important for many organisms, from bacteria to humans, as they help adapt to cold conditions. The team identified an ancient protein named SCORE that can be modified to improve how plants detect a wider range of pathogens. According to a report by RIKEN, SCORE can enhance plants’ immune systems.

Plants use natural receptor proteins to recognize molecules from pathogens. When these fit together, an immune response kicks in. However, the effectiveness of these receptors varies, limiting the range of pathogens they can identify. Recent studies suggest that some immune receptors can be transferred between different plant families, offering new defenses.

Shirasu’s team analyzed over 1,300 receptors across 350 plant species, discovering a new immune receptor in the pomelo, a citrus fruit from Southeast Asia. This receptor is selective towards certain cold shock proteins, hence the name “Selective COld shock protein REceptor” or SCORE.

Most pathogens, aside from viruses, produce cold shock proteins. While many of these proteins have similar structures, there are critical differences that can help plants respond better to various threats. The research team identified 60 variations of SCORE linked to different plant lineages. They traced these back to the last common ancestor of all flowering plants, a surprising finding that highlights the evolution of these immune responses.

Yasuhiro Kadota, a co-author of the study, noted the unexpected diversity in how different plants recognize CSPs. This signals potential for future advancements in plant immunity through genetic engineering.

The researchers created new pomelo SCORE versions that enabled it to recognize cold shock proteins from bacteria it couldn’t typically detect. This development could be crucial as the United Nations estimates food production needs to increase by 60% by 2050 to keep up with the growing population. Crop losses from pests and diseases threaten this goal, highlighting the urgency of these scientific innovations.

Experts believe that engineering resilient crops can mitigate these risks. Advanced technologies, from genetic modifications that boost yields to smart sensors for crop monitoring, are key strategies in this battle. Bruno Pok Man Ngou, the study’s first author, remarked that the next step is to incorporate engineered SCORE variants into important crop species, aiming for broad-spectrum protection against pests and diseases.

This research not only tackles immediate agricultural challenges but also supports long-term global food security, making it a significant leap forward in sustainable farming practices.

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