These arms and pads contain the stomata and chloroplasts responsible for photosynthesis. The arms of this cactus allow it to photosynthesize in the absence of leaves. Credit: Engin Akyurt/Unsplash ...

They used chloroplasts in living plants as well as chloroplasts extracted from plant leaves — often spinach purchased at the supermarket. Plants only use 10% of the sunlight available to them.

The findings have helped some plants survive 50 percent longer in drought conditions, and could eventually benefit major crops such as barley, rice and wheat, which are crucial to world food supplies.

Chloroplasts may seem like docile farmers of light. But inside these microscopic plant and algal cell structures lurks the spirit of a warrior. When a pathogen attacks a plant, chloroplasts stop ...

Dr Pogson said the research found chloroplasts in cells surrounding the pores on leaves, called stomata, can sense drought stress and thereby activate a chemical signal that closes stomata to ...

Chloroplasts, the plant powerhouses, send signals to roots We don't know what it is, but it controls the expression of nuclear genes. Malcolm Campbell, The Conversation – Apr 13, 2014 11:20 am | 14 ...

Scientists have long known that chloroplasts help plants turn the sun’s energy into food, but a new study, led by plant biologists at the University of California, Davis, shows that they are also ...

A study uncovers a new role for ion transporters: they participate in gene regulation in chloroplasts. A study led by LMU plant biologist Hans-Henning Kunz uncovers a new role for ion transporters ...

How guard cell chloroplasts obtain energy Date: February 10, 2022 Source: The University of Hong Kong Summary: Whether Guard Cells (GCs) carry out photosynthesis has been debated for decades.

Citation: Chloroplasts' ancient origins: Organelles may have emerged as energy producers before switching to carbon assimilation (2024, December 10) retrieved 19 July 2025 from https://phys.org ...