2024-09-26 PL-INT-2024-008813 GP 2045 Draft Comments - A. Longo

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maximise productivity.An evaluation of fruit quality under these conditions has also been shown to be highly variable between treatments and difference are observed between cultivars with the same treatment suggesting that much more research is required to identify the specific mechanisms behind changes in fruit quality.In the case of soft fruit production in greenhouse environments,it will be important to determine if the quality of fruit harvested early in the season differs from that of fruit harvested later in the season when plants have spent a more significant period of time exposed to e[CO2]growth conditions.Cherry for instance,when grown under prolonged periods of e[CO21,acclimates to prolonged exposure and initial significant gains in yield observed after two months are less detectable after ten months and are not significantly different to control plants grown at a[CO2][72].This may in one respect account for differences in nutritional quality observed in fruit grown in similar conditions in different studies(i.e.fruit harvested at different times in the study)where additional fertilizer treatments aren't provided. Increases in yield associated with e[CO2]controlled environments maybe about more than additional carbon.Controlled environments also allow the regulation of transpiration(e.g.by controlling vapour pressure deficit)and therefore water uptake and the inclusion of additional fertilisation (specifically N).Breeding new varieties adapted to these growth conditions may also be more amenable given the hostility towards genetically modified crops.A recent review noted that new phenomics,genomics,and bioinformatics tools make it possible to harness the untapped potential of crop genetic resources(including wild relatives)to create combinations of traits to enhance yield in high[CO2]controlled environments[137]. Breeding alone may not be sufficient to adapt all varieties,or all crops,to high[CO2]growing environments traditionally used in greenhouses. However,over the last several decades,agricultural research has adopted technologies such as genetic engineering and"genome editing"to improve traits in key crops that could be useful in these circumstances[85,138-140].These include advances in the tools available to carry out this work,including vectors for multiple gene insertion[141-145]and tissue specific promoters[146-150].If the promise of these biotechnology programs is to be realized,it will be necessary to address the public perception of genetic modification and genome editing technologies to gain greater acceptance. Genetic manipulation,may need to go beyond the direct manipulation of carbon assimilation in leaves[84,180],but focus on the manipulating and control of stomatal function[151,152],the manipulation of pigments complexes in ripening fruit[153],enhancement of light capture by the leaves through the manipulation of chlorophyll distribution and form[1541 and importantly look a methodologies for increasing N uptake via transgenic [96]or traditional means(improved fertilization regimes). It should also be noted that the introduction of new growing,hydroponics,aquaponics and aeroponics may require further study,to breed and adapt or engineer plants root architecture for these new growth media.In conclusion,greenhouse cultivation offers the opportunity to manipulate growing atmosphere,lights and VPD for improved yields and we can now look at the opportunities to breed and engineer plants specifically optimised for these conditions. Acknowledgments This research is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council(BBSRC)Collaborative Training Partnerships(CTP)for Fruit Crop Research in partnership with NIAB EMR and Reading University.N.H.D was supported by"Realising increased photosynthetic efficiency to increase strawberry yields"(BBSRC,BB/S507192/1)awarded to A.J.S.A.J.S is supported by the Growing Kent and Medway Program,UK;Ref 107139. Author Contributions N.H.D and A.J.S drafted and wrote the manuscript with input from T.L,C.A.R and C.W who also edited the final version. Conflict of interests The authors declare no competing interests. References 1. Ainsworth EA,Rogers A.The response of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance to rising[CO2]:mechanisms and environmental interactions.Plant Cell Environ. 2007;30:258-70. Google Scholar Crossref PubMed WorldCat 2. Kimball BA.Crop responses to elevated CO2 and interactions with H20,N,and temperature.Curr Opin Plant Biol.2016;31:36-43. Google Scholar Crossref PubMed WorldCat 3. Kimball BA,Mitchell ST.CO2 enrichment of tomatoes in unventilated greenhouses in an arid climate.Acta Hortic.1978;87:131-8. Google Scholar WorldCat PDF 4. Mortensen LM.Review:CO2 enrichment in greenhouses.Crop responses.Sci Hortic.1987;33:1-25. Help°,' .. I• . • - L• . . Oxford University Press uses cookies to enhance your experience on our website.By selecting`accept all'you are agreeing to our use of cookies.You can change your cookie setting More information can be found in our Cookie Policy.