Carlos Takeshi Hotta

Life Sciences

Carlos Hotta, a biologist and lecturer at the Chemistry Institute of the University of São Paulo (USP), specialized in plants during his doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge in England in 2007.

His research delves into the workings of the biological clock in certain plants. Much like humans, plants also regulate their circadian rhythm. Hotta is exploring the possibility that a plant’s productivity could be influenced by its biological clock. For instance, if one variety of sugarcane is sweeter than others, this difference could potentially be attributed to a more precise biological clock, which in turn could lead to improved metabolism.

Open Calls

Science Call 1

Projects

The Power of Timekeeping: How Circadian Rhythms Enhance Plant Growth
Science / Life Sciences

Plants can gauge the time of day through their biological clock. This enables them to, among other things, anticipate sunrise and prime their leaves for photosynthesis as soon as the first rays of sunlight reach them. Plants that lack functional biological clocks exhibit slower growth, reduced photosynthesis, and less efficient water usage. The objective of this project is to study the biological clock in sugarcane to gain a more in-depth understanding of how this signaling pathway influences plant productivity. By comparing the biological clocks of various sugarcane varieties, we aim to draw a correlation between the observed differences and their field performance. Additionally, we will explore how time can serve as valuable information for plants. For instance, does the biological clock assist plants in deciding how to utilize the sugars generated during photosynthesis, or the nitrogen absorbed by the roots? This line of inquiry could yield significant insights into plant behavior and productivity.

Amount invested

Grant Serrapilheira: R$ 100.000,00
  • Topics
  • Biological clock
  • Photosynthesis
  • plants
  • Sugar cane