RIPE 2024 Top Stories of the Year Countdown

During the week between Christmas and New Year’s, the RIPE social media pages counted down the top five stories of the year. Find all five stories below. We look forward to sharing new research stories in 2025!

The top half of the image shows a diagram showing three different types of photosynthesis modeling: metabolic kinetics, to leaf-level to canopy microclimate and growth. Also shows the important factors in each stage; metabolic kinetcs: Light, water, and CO2 in and sugars and O2 out. Leaf level: light absorption, carbon assimilation, water stress, and transpiration. Canopy mircroclimate and growth: Sunlight, evapotranspiration, water and CO2 in and O2 out. The bottom half of the image has a large number five with the words Modeling framework ties dynamic pathways directly with crop growth next to it. The words RIPE 2025 Social Media Countdown, RIPE, and Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency are across the bottom along with the RIPE logo.

 

 

Starting off our list at #5 for 2024 is an article published in in silico plants that, for the first time, tied dynamic photosynthetic pathways directly to crop growth!

Journal article: https://doi.org/10.1093/insilicoplants/diae009  

News story: https://bit.ly/3Lm1jXm

 

 

The top half of the image is a man kneeling in a field surrounded by green and yellow plants. A large green number four splits the middle of the image. The bottom half of the image has the words Decrease in Chlorophyll results in higher seed nitrogen next to the bottom of the four, The words RIPE 2025 Social Media Countdown, RIPE, and Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency are across the bottom along with the RIPE logo.

 

 

Coming in at #4 for 2024, is a Plant, Cell & Environment article showing that reducing chlorophyll levels in seed-filling stages results in higher seed nitrogen without impacting canopy carbon assimilation.

Journal article: https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14815

News story: https://bit.ly/47hNyRS

 

 

The top half of the image is a woman looking down at a measurement tool in a field of green plants with a blue sky in the background. A large green number three splits the middle of the image. The bottom half of the image has the words Increase in mesophyll conductance can be engineered next to the bottom of the three. The words RIPE 2025 Social Media Countdown, RIPE, and Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency are across the bottom along with the RIPE logo.

 

Halfway through our 2024 countdown at #3 is an article that was on the cover of the Plant Biotechnology Journal. Researchers proved in a model crop that an increase in mesophyll conductance could be engineered AND that it leads to an increase in photosynthesis!

Journal article: https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.14364

News story: https://bit.ly/3UDLkJk

 

The top half of the image is a machine with the word licor on top taking a measurement of a green leaf surrounded by other green plants. A large green number two splits the middle of the image. The bottom half of the image has the words How-to guide for gas exchange techniques next to the bottom of the two, The words RIPE 2025 Social Media Countdown, RIPE, and Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency are across the bottom along with the RIPE logo.

 

 

 

A “How-to guide” for gas exchange techniques, coauthored by a number of RIPE team members and alums, comes in at #2 on our countdown. The review, written for beginner and experienced researchers, was published in Plant, Cell & Environment.

Journal review: https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14815

 

 

The top half of the image is a man inspecting the leaf of a plant in a greenhouse with other leaves nearby. A large green number one splits the middle of the image. The bottom half of the image has the words Changing upstream DNA alters photosynthesis next to the bottom of the one, The words RIPE 2025 Social Media Countdown, RIPE, and Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency are across the bottom along with the RIPE logo.

 

 

Coming in at #1 on our Top Stories of 2024 Countdown, a RIPE team used CRISPR/Cas9 to alter photosynthesis in rice by changing its upstream DNA. This was the first approach to increase gene expression and downstream photosynthetic activity. Their work was published in Science Advances

Journal article: https://bit.ly/4bAFsXA

News story: https://bit.ly/4ca0sEf

RELATED RIPE OBJECTIVES

Modeling Photosynthesis Relaxing Photoprotection Photorespiratory Bypass