Membrane-permeable trehalose 6-phosphate precursor spray increases wheat yields in field trials
Trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) is an endogenous sugar signal in plants that promotes growth, yet it cannot be introduced directly into crops or fully genetically controlled. Here we show that wheat yields were improved using a timed microdose of a plant-permeable, sunlight-activated T6P signaling precursor, DMNB-T6P, under a variety of agricultural conditions. Under both well-watered and water-stressed conditions over 4 years, DMNB-T6P stimulated yield of three elite varieties. Yield increases were an order of magnitude larger than average annual genetic gains of breeding programs and occurred without additional water or fertilizer. Mechanistic analyses reveal that these benefits arise from increased CO<sub>2</sub> fixation and linear electron flow ('source') as well as from increased starchy endosperm volume, enhanced grain sieve tube development and upregulation of genes for starch, amino acid and protein synthesis ('sink'). These data demonstrate a step-change, scalable technology with net benefit to the environment that could provide sustainable yield improvements of diverse staple cereal crops.
Authors
- Matthew Reynolds (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4291-4316)
- Swati Puranik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1787-1550)
- Smita Kurup (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1035-7065)
- Kirsty L. Hassall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0033-1136)
- Cara A. Griffiths (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5167-2606)
- Liana G. Acevedo‐Siaca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3903-0402)
- Javier A. Miret (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8897-1212)
- Benjamin G. Davis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5056-407X)
- Matthew J. Paul (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2001-961X)
- Fernando Salvagiotti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6043-9803)
- Xiaochao Xue (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0657-9298)
- Kirstie Halsey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1701-0198)
- Mária Oszvald
- Jacinta Gimeno
Institutions
- Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz Y Trigo (MX)
- Rothamsted Research (GB)
- University of Warwick (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Centro Científico Tecnológico - San Juan (AR)
- Rosalind Franklin Institute (GB)
- Science Oxford (GB)
- National Agricultural Technology Institute (AR)
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Biotechnology
- Published
- 2025-04-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-025-02611-1
- Citations
- 15
- Primary Topic
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 24.50
Funders
- UK Research and Innovation
- University of Nottingham
- Bangor University
- Directorate for Biological Sciences
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council