Highly Efficient and Thermotolerant Wheat (HEAT-WHEAT)

The EU-funded Heat-Wheat project aims to meet the needs for a growing food security in a changing climate, which is currently one the key challenges for agricultural research, particularly the impact of heat waves on food production. Photosynthesis is arguably the greatest contributor to crop yield and its reduction will severely affect food production. Photosynthesis is highly susceptible to even moderately elevated temperatures.

The project is exploring ways of increasing the stability of the enzyme Rubisco activase (RCA) in warmer temperatures. RCA is one of the least thermostable photosynthesis proteins and the principal activation partner for the photosynthetic core enzyme Rubisco, that drives carbon fixation and hence growth.

Improving heat tolerance of photosynthesis in wheat will prevent or diminish yield losses under future climate scenarios. This advance will make it possible to grow wheat in hotter places, helping to ensure a more secure food supply.

HEAT-WHEAT project aims to manipulate RCA in order to enhance the photosynthetic performance, and therefore yield potential, of wheat.