Cornell researchers prove how plants transport sugars

How do many plants ship sugars from their leaves to flowers, roots, fruits and other parts of their structure' Using genetic engineering techniques, Cornell researchers have finally proven a long-standing theory of how this occurs. The findings not only deepen understanding of basic plant biology but could one day allow researchers to genetically engineer plants with increased photosynthetic rates, yields and carbon dioxide intake. This might be critically important in an era of climate change. The theory of transporting sugar, the polymer trap model, was first proposed in 1991 by Robert Turgeon, Cornell professor of plant biology. He is also the senior author of the latest research...

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