• Health
  • Science
  • U.S.
  • Technology
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports

Building a Better World

News and information

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team

Genetic Secrets in Pineapples Could Hold the Key for Global Food Production

November 3, 2015 By Jerry Newberry

Genetic Secrets in Pineapples Could Hold the Key for Global Food Production

Scientists hope the genetics of the pineapple can lead to increased food production worldwide.

Scientists are learning more about the particular type of photosynthesis that a pineapple uses to prosper in arid climates due to sequencing the genome of the popular fruit and unlocking secrets they hope will lead to developing new varieties of crops, says a report on Reuters.

Plant biologist Ray Ming of the University of Illinois said Monday the genome is providing a starting point for developing new products that have not only a longer shelf life, but are a better quality, more productive and less likely to be stricken by disease and insects.

The domestication of pineapples began some 6,000 years ago in the area we know as Brazil and Paraguay, but the industrial production of the delicious fruit in Hawaii around 100 years ago turned pineapple harvesting into a big business, leading to the fruit being grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions across the globe.

Today, the pineapple is second only to the banana as the most important tropical fruit, and an $8 billion industry, grown in over 80 countries.

Pineapples use a type of photosynthesis identified as crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), one of the three major types plants use to convert sunlight into energy.  Scientists believe this type of photosynthesis evolved over eons to allow plants to make efficient use of limited water resources in arid locations.

Plants using CAM photosynthesis use anywhere from 20 to 80 percent less water that plants using C3 photosynthesis, the type used by most crop plants.  This makes CAM plants suitable for planting on land that is considered marginal for food crops.

The researchers are hopeful the genome sequence will lead to opportunities to engineer the CAM characteristics into other food crops and increasing the amount of land that can be used to grow food for an ever-increasing population and fight world hunger.

Pages: 1 2

Sharing

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Filed Under: Front Page, Science

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us

Facebookrss

Search:

Recent Posts

  • Shocking discovery in New Jersey stuns authorities April 22, 2018
  • Huge volcanic explosion could wipe out the United States April 21, 2018
  • Huge controversy erupts over world’s hottest pepper April 15, 2018
  • SpaceX is about to do something astonishing April 15, 2018
  • Massive breakthrough: Possible hearing loss cure discovered April 8, 2018
  • Scientists shocked by astonishing Mars photos April 8, 2018
  • Scientists shocked by massive dinosaur discovery April 7, 2018
  • Astonishing picture of New York will blow your mind April 7, 2018
  • No joke: This Viagra story will shock you March 31, 2018
  • Common over-the-counter medicine kills someone: stunning report March 31, 2018
  • This insane Dungeons and Dragons report will blow your mind March 25, 2018
  • Huge breakthrough: Simple trick to lose weight discovered March 24, 2018
  • Scientists uncover shocking truth about meat March 24, 2018
  • Huge discovery about humans floors scientists March 19, 2018
  • Astonishing Jupiter discovery totally floors scientists March 17, 2018


Copyright © 2018 Jones Kilmartin Group, LLC · Metro Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress