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Thermostable rubisco activase complexes

Summary

Improved heat tolerance in plants for enhanced crop yields under heat stress

Technology Benefits

Maintaining current cop yields in traditional growing areas despite climate change.
Expanding potential growing areas of heat-sensitive crops into warmer zones.

Technology Application

Maintaining current crop yields in traditional growing areas despite climate change.
Expanding potential growing areas of heat-sensitive crops into warmer zones.
Can potentially be incorporated through conventional breeding techniques in rice crops (Orzya sp.).
Can be incorporated through standard recombinant techniques into plants other than (Orzya sp.)

Detailed Technology Description

A novel variant of Rubisco activase (RCA) with greater activity at elevated temperatures. The RCA variant was identified in wild Australian rice (Orzya australiensis), in which we have shown that it produces more thermally stable complexes up to 42 degrees C, contrasting with RCA from common commercial rice, O. sativa, which forms unstable complexes above 36 degrees C. Photosynthetic activity in O. sativa is halved at 45 degrees (cf. 28 degrees C), whereas photosynthesis rates in plants with our heat-tolerant variant of RCA remains stable.
This technology could be applied to many crops to maintain current yields in traditional growing areas into the future, despite predicted increasing average temperatures from climate change. The technology could also be used to expand the current growing areas of heat-sensitive crops into hotter and more arid zones traditionally considered unsuitable for temperate crops.

Type of Cooperation

Licensing - cereal crops (except wheat)

Application No.

WO/2016/115594

ID No.

2011010

Country/Region

Australia