Scientists from the University of Zurich have shown that selecting plants with mutations that allow them to grow side by side can increase yields by 15%. The research was published in the journal PLOS Biology.
In classical evolutionary theory, individuals compete and the one with the most advantageous genes gives more offspring. This poses a problem for growers who benefit from the “cooperation” of plants. For example, in dense plantings of maize or wheat, overall yield can be improved if the plants are not tall enough to shade each other.
Finding mutations that could encourage cooperation is difficult, but the authors of the new study have developed a system for identifying them. Experiment on a model plant (Arabidopsis thaliana), showed that co-cultivation of mutation carriers resulted in a 15% increase in yield. The cooperative effect was due to reduced root competition – neighboring plants may have spent less energy occupying the root zone to get their nutrients.