Dr. Florence Danila of the Australian National University wins Thomas Davies 2024 grant from the Australian Academy of Science to support her work on plasmodesmata.

Plasmodesmata are plant-unique nanochannels that facilitate regulated cell-to-cell transport essential for plant growth and development, as well as photosynthesis and plant defence. In grasses, more photosynthetically efficient C₄ species like corn and sorghum have more plasmodesmata in their leaves than their C₃ relatives rice, wheat, and barley.

Understanding the genetic mechanisms governing plasmodesmata formation in leaves of C₄ species could lead to new opportunities to improve crop photosynthesis, Dr Danila says.

“This should benefit improved crop yield and plant performance in the face of climate change, contributing towards global food security and plant biosecurity.” 

This article is first published by the Australian Academy of Science.