Chonnam National University Team Presents Key Clue for Developing Crops Resistant to Drought and High Temperatures

(From left) A schematic diagram showing the simultaneous regulation of chloroplast development and stress resistance by proteins, Research team led by Professor Kyupil Jang. Courtesy of Chonnam National University

A research team at Chonnam National University has presented a crucial clue for developing crops that can maintain yields and enhance productivity even under environmental stresses such as drought and high temperatures caused by climate change. By overcoming the limitations of previous crop studies, which struggled to secure both growth and stress resistance, this breakthrough is expected to offer a new solution for food security in the era of climate crisis.

According to Chonnam National University on March 30, the research team led by Professor Kyupil Jang (Department of Life Science and Technology) revealed that chloroplasts are not merely photosynthetic organelles, but also key cellular organelles that determine environmental stress resistance.

Chloroplasts are photosynthetic organelles that produce the energy necessary for the development and growth of plants. Through studies using rice, a major staple crop, the research team identified that the OsFeSOD3 protein functions as a component of the PEP (Plastid-encoded RNA polymerase) complex, which is responsible for chloroplast gene expression, and established it as a key factor in regulating chloroplast development.

The team also confirmed that the OsFeSOD3 protein acts as an antioxidant enzyme that removes reactive oxygen species (ROS) within chloroplasts, thereby regulating the plant’s environmental stress resistance. In fact, rice with increased OsFeSOD3 expression maintained growth and productivity even under non-stress conditions, while under stress conditions, it exhibited both higher resistance and improved productivity.

By doing so, the research team demonstrated that OsFeSOD3 acts as a 'dual regulator' simultaneously controlling chloroplast development and ROS regulation, thereby proving the potential to overcome the trade-off between growth and stress resistance.

Professor Kyupil Jang stated, "This study is significant in that it demonstrates the possibility of simultaneously improving growth, productivity, and stress resistance—a longstanding challenge in crop research. We expect it will form an important academic foundation for the future development of highly productive and disaster-resistant crops in response to climate change."

This study was conducted with Professor Kyupil Jang of the Department of Life Science and Technology at Chonnam National University as the corresponding author and doctoral candidate Deokhyun Seo as the first author. It was published in the international journal Plant Biotechnology Journal (average IF 11.8 over the past three years, top 2.1% in the field) in the field of botany.

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