Genomics and Biotechnology of Plant Adaptation to the Environment

The molecular basis of plant adaptation to the environment is one of the most complex areas of plant science and an understanding of this subject is critical to our ability to feed an increasing word population. Research on plant adaptation to the environment often involves two complementary approaches; top-down studies of well-adapted plants with the goal of identifying and describing the biochemical basis of adaptation and bottom-up targeted analysis of specific biochemical mechanisms with the goal of understanding how these mechanisms contribute to overall plant performance. This brief review will provide examples of both of these approaches by describing the study of sorghum's adaptation to dry environments and the role of a blue light responsive chloroplast promoter that helps protect plants against damage by high irradiance.