Biofuel testing could lead to water-efficient crop growth

The discovery of a mutant gene that reduces water consumption in plants could lead to more efficient use of the resource in future biofuel testing.

Arabidopsis thaliana is a small, flowering plant that is popular as a genetic model for other, more complex organisms.

As such, any findings made in the species could highlight potential routes for future biofuel testing in feedstock crops.

Scientists at Purdue University have discovered one potentially useful mutation in the species: its ability to grow with a reduced number of stomata.

These are the holes through which water is released and carbon dioxide taken in, and usually close during periods of drought, subduing the growth of the plant but retaining water.

In mutants with fewer stomata, however, 20 per cent less water is lost, while the same amount of carbon dioxide is taken up.

Together with sunlight, these are the key ingredients for photosynthesis - and, in the mutant plants, lead to the same biomass production as in wild examples, but with less water required.