Grasses, including corn, wheat, and rice, are the primary source of plant-based calories for humans and livestock, according to groundbreaking research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst published on July 11, 2026, in Current Biology. This study reveals that grasses grow in response to temperature rather than light, challenging long-held beliefs about plant growth.
Understanding Grass Growth Patterns
For many years, scientists believed that light cues dictated growth cycles in plants. However, Samuel Hazen, a professor of biology at UMass Amherst, states, "All the things we thought we knew about the timing of daily growth rhythms in plants turn out to be different in the plants that provide almost all of our calories and most of the calories that we feed to the animals we eat." This suggests that grasses have distinct growth mechanisms compared to other plants.
In this recent study, researchers found that each leaf's cells in grasses divide and elongate based on temperature. This discovery is crucial since it directly impacts how crops like wheat, corn, and rice can be cultivated, especially in the face of global climate change.
Innovative Research Techniques
To study grass growth, Hazen's team utilized a custom bioluminescence imaging system designed by graduate student Greg Gregory and co-author Dave Follette. This system allows scientists to take time-lapse images of a model grass, purple false brome, as it grows under various conditions. The engineered plants emit a faint glow when the CESA8 gene, responsible for building structural support in the plant, is activated.
