Radiation Use Efficiency: Unrevealing its potential for crop yield optimization

Radiation use efficiency for yield optimization

Abstract

Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) refers to how efficiently plants capture solar energy through their canopy and convert it into biomass or grain. Crop yield is determined by three factors: the amount of intercepted radiation (IR), radiation use efficiency, and the harvest index (HI). Significant efforts have been made to enhance IR and HI in crop breeding, but these have nearly reached their limits. Therefore, improving RUE presents another promising avenue for increasing yield. Currently, RUE in crops ranges from 2-3%, leaving considerable room for improvement in crop breeding. RUE varies across different species and crops, with C3 crops generally having lower RUE compared to C4 crops. RUE is influenced by radiation interception, which is in turn, affected by incoming radiation and the traits that contribute to photosynthesis. However, the availability of this comprehensive information on RUE is still scanty. Hence, the present review compiles various physiological, molecular, anatomical, biochemical and agronomical approaches which can be used for improving RUE. This compiled information will be useful for researchers and breeders for improving RUE in various crops for increasing yield to meet the future food demand.