At the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a trailblazing research initiative is underway with the ambition of condensing the natural progression of plant development, which usually takes over a hundred millennia, into a short span of days. At the forefront of this initiative is the cultivation of more robust plant enzymes designed to endure longer, which could play a vital role in significantly enhancing the productivity of crops. This advancement is poised to address concerns of global food security as the Earth’s population continues to grow.
Propelling Evolution Forward for Enhanced Crop Production
Under the guidance of Dr. Ulschan Bathe, the research team at TUM is making strides to increase the longevity of plant enzymes that typically have short lifecycles. “Through directed evolution, our goal is to prolong the active lifespan of these critical enzymes,” Dr. Bathe conveyed. This strategy could lead to plants becoming more efficient in their resource use, potentially redirecting energy to growth and development—factors that could elevate crop production levels.
This technique, termed “continuous directed evolution,” artificially intensifies the rate of genetic mutations. “By inducing an accelerated mutation frequency within our specified genes, we can assess the survivability and performance of the resulting variants under competitive resource constraints,” Dr. Bathe described. These modifications are carried out within yeast cultures, which serve as an ideal platform due to their high reproduction rates and compatibility, allowing for rapid progression of genetic enhancements which would ordinarily take eons.
Following the perfection of these adjustments in yeast, the gene sequences of the superior plant enzymes are then integrated into agricultural plants like tomatoes to undergo further analysis. Dr. Bathe elucidated, “We will scrutinize these plants with modified gene sequences to validate whether the induced mutations yield the anticipated benefits.” The ultimate aim is to determine if the enzyme modifications manifest in a tangible increase in crop output.
Dr. Bathe selected TUM’s Weihenstephan campus for this ambitious project, lauding its advanced infrastructure and vibrant international research community. The team comprises individuals from TUM, along with contributors from China and South America, highlighting the project’s extensive reach.
The Elite Network of Bavaria has been critical in advancing the research with both financial support and developmental avenues for the research crew. With this support, Dr. Bathe emphasized the value of additional group members, which naturally facilitates more streamlined research activities. The funding also promotes an interactive environment among PhD candidates and the global scientific community, fostering the acquisition of soft skills crucial for their academic pursuits.
Dr. Bathe’s academic background includes her studies at Halle-Wittenberg University and her Ph.D. completion at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry. After her postdoctoral work at the University of Florida, she became a part of TUM’s faculty, where she currently collaborates with Prof. Brigitte Poppenberger’s Professorship of Biotechnology of Horticultural Crops, a position supported by the Elite Network of Bavaria.
