Investigations into cyanobacterial photoacclimation processes address longstanding proposals for improving crop yields

Recent advances in our understanding of cyanobacterial photoacclimation have the potential to improve photosynthetic efficiency in crops. Whereas oxygenic photosynthesis typically relies on visible light, some cyanobacteria acclimate to absorb far-red light, thus expanding the absorbance cross-section of their photosystems. This expanded absorbance range, via the implementation of red-shifted chromophores, could be bioengineered into crops to enhance yields by capturing more light energy and boosting photosynthetic efficiency in light-limited environments. Recent insight into natural cyanobacterial photoacclimation mechanisms offer promising avenues for engineered photosynthetic improvements in agriculture. Recent discoveries reveal how cyanobacteria naturally overcome photosynthetic limits, supporting proposals to improve use of the solar spectrum. These insights could guide efforts to engineer more efficient crops and biofuel-producing organisms.