Lancaster University
Lancaster Environment Centre

Learning from plants that save water in hot, dry conditions

As temperatures rise and drought becomes more frequent, many crops face increasing pressure to produce food while using less water. Most crops use a form of photosynthesis known as C3, which does not use water efficiently in hot conditions. Some plants have evolved an alternative strategy called crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), which conserves water by taking up carbon dioxide at night, allowing leaf pores to remain closed during the day. However, the mechanisms controlling CAM are not yet fully understood.

Jessica will study the succulent Kalanchoë laxiflora, which offers an unusual opportunity to investigate the transition to CAM: its young leaves use C3 photosynthesis, while older leaves switch to CAM. Her research will focus on Rubisco, the enzyme responsible for carbon dioxide fixation during photosynthesis, and Rubisco activase, which regulates its activity. Combining molecular genetics with biochemical and physiological techniques, she will investigate how Rubisco regulation differs between C3 and CAM leaves and its role during the transition between these photosynthetic pathways.

Understanding how plants naturally activate water-saving photosynthesis could reveal new strategies for improving photosynthesis under challenging environmental conditions. In the longer term, the findings could inform efforts to introduce some of CAM’s water-saving benefits into crops, supporting agricultural resilience in hotter, drier climates.