However, rubisco may accidentally absorb oxygen, which causes the production of a toxic byproduct called phosphoglycolate. This is where photorespiration neutralizes the toxic waste and turns it into useful compounds for humans.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstanding how nature makes this vitamin will help us engineer plants fortified with this nutrient,\u201d says Walker. \u201cThat may become necessary, especially in cultures where people can\u2019t simply take a multivitamin to make up for less nutritious plants.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scaling testing<\/p>\n
Until now, photorespiration making folates was only a speculation, as it was not clear how much carbon in the process helped make the vitamin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"scientist](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/7f4b0eb2-65db-4891-bc9d-ab223b3fe90c54748568614_ae37be61c8_k.jpg\")
Walker used liquid nitrogen to freeze plant leaves while they were still being measured by an infrared gas analyzer.The study found that higher CO2 levels in the air lower photorespiration in plants. In such cases vitamin B9 production dropped from about 6% to 1%.<\/p>\n
However, Walker\u2019s test with the common model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, with and without photorespiration, enabled the measurement of CO2 absorption levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His team used an infrared gas analyzer on the plant\u2019s leaves, while mass spectrometry revealed its chemicals and how they incorporated CO2. They also repeatedly checked this process over months.<\/p>\n
Next, the lab is carrying out similar tests with outdoor crops to check whether the trends in the lab are true for plants in the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need this knowledge about plants in order to engineer them for the future,\u201d adds Walker. \u201cIf we don\u2019t have that foundation, we\u2019ll never get to the application.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crop nutrition in spotlight<\/p>\n
Scientists are developing a new approach to food security by creating a \u201csmart bacterium\u201d<\/a> that can reprogram crops\u2019 responses to environmental stresses in real time. Nutrition Insight spoke with the lead researcher about improving nutrition yield and quality.<\/p>\n Rice, maize, and wheat \u2014 key cereal crops using the C3 pathway \u2014 supply food for billions worldwide. However, research has warned that they may be threatened<\/a> by rising atmospheric CO2 levels.<\/p>\n Other research from found that a symbiosis between plants and members of an ancient phylum of fungi\u00a0<\/a>caused bread wheat plants to grow more grain and accumulate greater amounts of nutrients.<\/p>\n