Overview
- In growth chambers simulating Furnace Creek at 47°C, Tidestromia oblongifolia boosted photosynthesis within two days and tripled biomass in about 10 days.
- The plant raised its optimal photosynthetic temperature to roughly 45°C within two weeks, exceeding levels documented for major crops.
- Live imaging showed chloroplasts in CO2-fixing cells adopting a cup-like shape not previously reported in higher plants.
- Mitochondria moved adjacent to chloroplasts as thousands of genes changed activity within 24 hours, including increased Rubisco activase.
- The Michigan State University study, published Nov. 7 in Current Biology, outlines mechanisms researchers say could inform efforts to breed or engineer heat-resilient crops.