<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<article>
<title><b>In vivo betacyanin expression via agrobacterium-mediated 35S-RUBY plasmid delivery enhances photosynthetic efficiency and carbon dioxide sequestration in <i>Lactuca sativa</i></b></title>
<authors>V. Yarlagadda</authors>
<keywords>Lactuca sativa, agrobacterium-mediated transformation, RUBY plasmid, CO₂ sequestration, Betacyanin</keywords>
<pages>42-54</pages>
<issue_number>9 (2) 2025</issue_number>
<issue_period>April  2025 </issue_period>
<abstract>The focus of this research was to mitigate the absorption of high-energy wavelengths through the insertion of the 35S RUBY plasmid, which contains the genes necessary for Betacyanin synthesis. To evaluate potential benefit of betacyanin expression, a three-pronged assay evaluating absorbance, CO₂ assimilation, and biomass proportion was employed to determine differences in photosynthetic potential in <i>Lactuca sativa</i> plants that were transformed with the 35S RUBY plasmid. The 35S RUBY plasmid coded for an enzyme pathway which converts excess cytoplasmic tyrosine to betacyanin. As a result, visible pigmentation formed on injection sites of chosen plants. After a thorough spectrophotometric analysis of tissue samples along the photosynthetic activity range, both injected and non-injected plants were studied to determine the rate at which CO₂ levels decreased in airtight environments. It was found that plants that were injected with the RUBY plasmid absorbed carbon dioxide at a rate 37.25% (ppm/min) greater than non-treated counterparts. To evaluate the validity of the observed differences in carbon dioxide absorption, each sample group was subject to controlled heat exposure, allowing for dry-weight acquisition. Our results offer a sustainable increase to photosynthesis, which is translatable to in-field use. This approach serves to democratize carbon capture by reducing the demand for energy and complex machinery.</abstract>
</article>
