Plant photosynthetic production as controlled by leaf growth, phenology, and behavior

Abstract

In this historical review we summarize discoveries related to the flowering genes in controlling leaf area index (LAI, the leaf area per unit ground area) in sorghum, soybean, or pea crop stands. We also analyze similar work on Arabidopsis and dwarf and intermediate stem height genes in wheat and rice.

Physiological characteristics of cassava tolerance to prolonged drought in the tropics: implications for breeding cultivars adapted to seasonally dry and semiarid environments

“…Those authors concluded that field research is the only valid ecosystem research in studying plant water relations and crop photosynthesis in relation to productivity. Until recently, the controlled-environment and greenhouse potted-plant scientists (many of whom were members of national science academies) controlled the plant photosynthesis and water relations research and often invoked the misuse of the terminology "adaptation to stress" for "acclimation to stress" to protect their domination over the public-funded scientific establishment and to cover up their failure in contributing to the early discoveries of the C 4 photosynthesis and its implications for plant water use efficiency (El-Sharkawy, 2005, 2006bHesketh, 1965, 1986;Begonia and Begonia, 2007). This is not a very good example to teach young people about how science is done nor an efficient way to manage public-funded research.…”

Pioneering research on C₄ leaf anatomical, physiological, and agronomic characteristics of tropical monocot and dicot plant species: Implications for crop water relations and productivity in comparison to C₃ cropping systems

“…This pioneering research in unravelling the C 4 Kranz anatomy was crucial and laid the foundations for consequent physiological, anatomical, and biochemical research (Begonia and Begonia 2007). The equally important pioneering biochemical work on the nature of the primary products involved in CO 2 fixation in sugarcane leaves done in Hawaii was published in the journal Plant Physiology (Kortschak et al 1965) at about the same time the research done in Arizona was published in Crop Science.…”

“…Zelitch 1971Zelitch , 1982 on what the agronomists did some being done at his location at Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, carefully citing most of the proper sources; the early agronomic work was also cited enough to win two citation classics. The American mainstream plant physiological-biochemical photosynthetic scientists also missed the Berkeley, CA, ground-breaking work on photosynthetic C 3 biochemistry (for the history of the elucidation of the C 3 cycle see Calvin 1989), as well as work on internode-dwarfing and flowering genes and their role in the photosynthesis of crop canopies and subsequent yield that impacted positively agricultural productivity and food security worldwide in the past five decades (the so-called "Green Revolution", mainly funded by non-profit private agencies) (Borlaug 1983, El-Sharkawy 2005, 2006a, Begonia and Begonia 2007, Andre 2006. American mainstream plant physiologicalbiochemical photosynthetic scientists seem to have drifted somewhat during all this.…”

Utility of basic research in plant/crop physiology in relation to crop improvement: a review and a personal account

“…In these plant types, larger grain yields were attributed mainly to greater partitioning of photoassimilates towards panicles and spikes (i.e., greater harvest index, Yoshida, 1972;Gifford and Evans, 1981;Snyder and Carlson, 1984) compared with traditional varieties and land races normally with tall stems and susceptible to lodging. This work was stimulated by the earlier discoveries by Asian scientists of the Norin-10 genes controlling dwarfism in wheat germplasm and the identification of similar genotypic characteristics in rice (Chang, 1976;Begonia and Begonia, 2007). The development of many new highyielding short cultivars of cereal crops resistant to pests and diseases, in combination with improved cultural practices, resulted in the so-called Green Revolution of the 1960 s. This breakthrough in agricultural productivity saved millions from famine in several developing countries, although the benefits have not been reaped evenly across countries, regions and crops (Evenson and Gollin, 2003).…”

“…Genes controlling flowering in peas, sorghum and soybeans were identified (Quinby, 1973;Quinby et al, 1973;Murfet 1977Murfet , 1989). This research was reviewed recently by Begonia and Begonia (2007).…”