Null mutants of a tomato Rho of plants exhibit enhanced water use efficiency without a penalty to yield

Significance Improving water use efficiency in crops while maintaining yield is crucial in the face of global warming. However, achieving this balance is challenging, as reducing water loss through stomatal pores often hampers CO2 uptake and compromises plant growth. In this study, we found that mutants lacking the ROP9 molecular switch exhibit enhanced water use efficiency without yield penalties, both in greenhouse and large-scale field experiments. The ROP9 switch regulates the formation of reactive oxygen species, and its absence in rop9 mutants leads to elevated stomata ROS levels and increased stomatal closure. Our findings highlight the role of the ROP switch in stomatal function and suggest its potential as a target for improving water use efficiency in crops.

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