According to Reuters, scientists have developed a groundbreaking method to grow wheat at twice the normal speed, which could play a significant role in meeting the food demands of the world's rapidly growing population.
Dr. Brande Wulff, the lead researcher from the John Innes Centre in Norwich, England, explained that traditional wheat cultivation typically takes four to five months from seed to harvest. However, by using specially designed LED lights, the team managed to grow crops in just eight weeks. The plants are exposed to 22 hours of light per day and receive a nutrient-rich solution. Despite this intensive setup, the researchers are aiming to make their technique more energy-efficient than standard laboratory methods.
"We urgently need to develop crops that can adapt to future climate conditions, work faster, and produce better yields," Dr. Wulff said. "These new crops will be affordable, nutritious, and more productive, helping us feed the world’s growing population."
The newly grown crops are not only faster but also larger and healthier compared to those grown under normal conditions. The team uses LED lights that emit only blue and red wavelengths, which are essential for photosynthesis. In contrast, most labs and greenhouses still rely on sodium-vapor lamps, which emit a lot of yellow and green light—light that plants don’t actually need for growth.
"Most of the light from sodium-vapor lamps is wasted," Dr. Wulff noted. "LEDs provide exactly what the plants need for efficient growth."
Although the rapid growth technique is currently limited due to the impracticality of lighting large farms at night, the research is expected to significantly speed up crop development. It may lead to the creation of crops that are more resilient, nutritious, and require fewer chemical inputs.
In addition, the team is working on growing six generations of barley, peas, and chickpeas within a single year, which could revolutionize breeding programs and accelerate the development of improved crop varieties.
Editor: Yan Zhixiang
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