Biology

Unlocking auxin: a tiny hormone with big impacts on crops

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

How can small molecules help shape the future of global food security? Researchers at the University of Tasmania have discovered that auxin, the master plant hormone, and starch production, the powerhouse of the world’s most important crops, provided new insights into the important role of auxin in

The research team’s invited commentary, published in Nature Communications, investigates how auxin regulates starch formation in rice, corn, and pea seeds.

“It turns out that this small molecule is key to how plants store energy, particularly in the form of starch,” said Adjunct Professor John Ross, co-author of the paper with Dr. Erin McAdam.

Professor Ross said the discovery was an important advance for global food security.

“Understanding the role of auxin could be a game-changer, especially for crops that billions of people depend on,” he said.

This research reveals the surprising truth that auxin is more than just a growth hormone. Without this, the seeds cannot properly store starch, an important component that makes up 60-80% of the rice grain.

Their paper synthesizes a body of research, including their own work, and shows that auxin does three important things: promote the activity of starch-producing genes, promote energy production, and ensure efficient influx of sugars into seeds. It shows how to adjust the process. Together, these pathways make auxin fundamental to crop development.

One of the secrets to bigger and better crops lies in trace amounts of plant hormones

A hypothetical model integrating three mechanisms proposed from different plant systems in which auxin promotes starch accumulation. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55756-z

This discovery has dramatic implications for agriculture. By adjusting the auxin pathway, scientists may be able to significantly increase starch production in crops such as rice and corn, essential staple foods for billions of people.

“There’s huge potential here,” Dr. McAdam said.

“Our research shows how hormones that plants already produce can be used to naturally increase carbohydrates in seed crops. There is scope for basic and applied research in this area. If we want to go big and feed billions of people, this research is critical.”

This study provides a foundation to further explore the role of auxin in starch synthesis and its broader impact on crop productivity. While the findings offer hope for improving food security, the researchers caution that more research is needed to realize its full potential.

Further information: John J. Ross et al, A new link between auxin and starch, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55756-z

Provided by University of Tasmania

Source: Unlocking auxin: A tiny hormone with big implications for crops (January 20, 2025) from https://phys.org/news/2025-01-auxin-tiny-hormone-big-implications.html Retrieved January 20, 2025

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