WSU Researchers Working to Make More Nutritious Plants

What if there was a way to make a plant, whether it’s tree fruit, corn, whatever, focus more of its effort into production as opposed to other aspects?

Researchers at WSU are discovering new ways to make that possible and Professor of Biological Sciences Michael Knoblauch said it could impact farmers.

“Understanding how we can manipulate the plant so that it puts even more into the fruit or specific nutrients that we are interested in into the fruit can improve the efficiency of production, no question.”

Knoblauch and his team have discovered what they call the sink system, or how nutrients work through plants which is critical to selecting breeds, or working with specific needs of plants by farmers.

Researchers are in the early stages though and Knoblauch said farmers will need to be patient before they can take advantage of these breakthroughs.

“Now we have to do the next step and see how we can direct the nutrients to specific sinks of interest. This is what are currently working on, so to have a farm product; this is still some years out.”

Knoblauch said if there is someone who can figure out how to increase sink strength by five percent and get five percent more product, it would be a billion-dollar business that could help feed the world.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.