A new study in the journal New Phytologist reveals how plants move sugar to get the energy they need to grow, even in challenging conditions. The research was led by the group of Li‑Qing Chen, Associate Professor of Plant Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, highlighting the importance of this discovery in understanding plant energy and growth.
The researchers found that a gene called SWEET1 helps transport glucose, a type of sugar, into plant cells. This sugar gives the plant the energy to grow, especially when stress signals like drought or high salt slow down development. Plants with a nonworking SWEET1 gene (loss-of-function sweet1 mutant) struggled to germinate under mimicked stress conditions and had difficulty growing roots directly in energy-starved conditions.
The study also connects SWEET1 activity to a signaling pathway involving the enzyme SnRK1, which helps plants manage energy shortages. This discovery shows exactly how sugar transport affects growth at the cellular level.
Understanding how plants move and use sugar is important because it can help scientists develop crops that grow better under stress. As global change makes conditions harsher for plants, knowing how to support their energy needs could lead to stronger, more resilient food sources.
In everyday terms, think of a seed trying to sprout in tough soil. SWEET1 acts like a “sugar door,” helping the plant get the energy it needs to push roots out of the seed coat and grow. This research could lead to healthier gardens, more reliable crops, and plants that thrive even when the environment is less than ideal.