Nissan and Yokohama City University are working together on research aimed at greatly increasing crop yields. Using these new crops as the raw material for biofuel production would help counter the reduction in supply of agricultural foodstuffs caused by increased biofuel use.
Features
By raising the efficiency of photosynthesis, this technology promotes plant growth to greatly increase crop yields.
Technology overview
Ordinary plants, under the "high-load conditions" of strong sunlight, use only 10% of the solar energy for photosynthesis; the remaining 90% is used to make active oxygen, which impedes photosynthesis, thereby restricting growth of the plant itself. High-performance plants, under high-load conditions, create more of an enzyme that renders this active oxygen harmless so that photosynthesis becomes more efficient, thereby promoting growth and greatly increasing crop yields.
Ordinary conditions, conventional plant variety high-performance plant variety
High load conditions, conventional plant variety
Increased light energy causes rapid increase in production of active oxygen.
Active oxygen impedes photosynthesis, so the increase in light cannot be used for growth.
High load conditions, high-performance plant variety
Enhanced neutralization of active oxygen curbs the factor that impedes photosynthesis.
Therefore, increased light results in increased sugar production and promotion of plant growth.