example of how humans and duckweed complement each other, and how we can use the
smallest plants to solve the largest challenges.
Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge
Paul Skillicorn from Agriquatics, Ron Salpeter from
Hinoman, and Tsipi and Ben Shoham from Green Onyx,
and Christine Escobar from Space Lab Technologies for
sharing data on their companies and research and
reviewing this document to ensure its accuracy.
References
Alexandratos N, Bruinsma J (2012) World agriculture
towards 2030/2050: the 2012 revision. Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO), Rome
An D, Li C, Zhou Y, Wu Y, Wang W (2018) Genomes
and transcriptomes of duckweeds. Front Chem 6:230.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2018.00230
Balaji P, Satheeshkumar PK, Venkataraman K, Vijayalakshmi MA (2016) Expression of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) single-chain variable
fragment (scFv) in Spirodela punctata plants transformed with agrobacterium tumefaciens. Biotechnol
Appl Biochem 63(3):354–361. https://doi.org/10.
1002/bab.1373
Bhanthumnavin K, Mcgarry MG (1971) Wolffia arrhiza
as a possible source of inexpensive protein. Nature
232(5311):495
Cao HX, Fourounjian P, Wang W (2018) The importance
and potential of duckweeds as a model and crop plant
for biomass-based applications and beyond. In: Hussain CM (ed) Handbook of environmental materials
management. Springer International Publishing,
Cham, pp 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-31958538-3_67-1
Cao HX, Vu GT, Wang W, Appenroth KJ, Messing J,
Schubert I (2016a) The map-based genome sequence
of Spirodela polyrhiza aligned with its chromosomes,
a reference for karyotype evolution. New Phytol 209
(1):354–363. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13592
Cao HX, Wang W, Le HTT, Vu GTH (2016b) The power
of CRISPR-Cas9-induced genome editing to speed up
plant breeding. Int J Genom 2016:10. https://doi.org/
10.1155/2016/5078796
Childers DL, Corman J, Edwards M, Elser JJ (2011)
Sustainability challenges of phosphorus and food:
solutions from closing the human phosphorus cycle.
Bioscience 61(2):117–124. https://doi.org/10.1525/
bio.2011.61.2.6
Demmig-Adams B, Adams WW 3rd (2002) Antioxidants
in photosynthesis and human nutrition. Science 298
(5601):2149–2153. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.
1078002
Escobar CM, Escobar AC (2017) Duckweed: a tiny
aquatic plant with enormous potential for
bioregenerative life support systems. In: 47th international conference on environmental systems, Charleston, South Carolina, 16–20 July 2017 2017. ICES,
p 281
Firsov A, Tarasenko I, Mitiouchkina T, Shaloiko L,
Kozlov O, Vinokurov L, Rasskazova E, Murashev A,
Vainstein A, Dolgov S (2018) Expression and
immunogenicity of M2e peptide of avian influenza
virus H5N1 fused to ricin toxin b chain produced in
duckweed plants. Front Chem 6:22
Ghosh M, Sharma N, Gera M, Kim N, Huynh D, Zhang J,
Min T, Sodhi SS, Kim MB, Rekha V (2018) Insights
into phytase-containing transgenic Lemna minor
(L) as a novel feed additive. Transgen Res 27
(2):211–224
Gramzow L, Theissen G (2015) Phylogenomics reveals
surprising sets of essential and dispensable clades of
MIKC(c)-group MADS-box genes in flowering plants.
J Exp Zool B Mol Dev Evol 324(4):353–362. https://
doi.org/10.1002/jez.b.22598
Henchion M, Hayes M, Mullen AM, Fenelon M, Tiwari B
(2017) Future protein supply and demand: strategies
and factors influencing a sustainable equilibrium.
Foods 6(7):53. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods6070053
Hoang PNT, Michael TP, Gilbert S, Chu P, Motley TS,
Appenroth KJ, Schubert I, Lam E (2018) Generating a
high-confidence reference genome map of the greater
duckweed by integration of cytogenomic, optical
mapping and oxford nanopore technologies.
Plant J. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.14049
Landolt E, Kandeler R (1987) Biosystematic investigations in the family of duckweeds (Lemnaceae), vol 4:
the family of Lemnaceae-a monographic study, vol 2
(phytochemistry, physiology, application, bibliography). Veroeffentlichungen des Geobotanischen Instituts der ETH, Stiftung Ruebel (Switzerland)
Michael TP, Bryant D, Gutierrez R, Borisjuk N, Chu P,
Zhang H, Xia J, Zhou J, Peng H, El Baidouri M, Ten
Hallers B, Hastie AR, Liang T, Acosta K, Gilbert S,
McEntee C, Jackson SA, Mockler TC, Zhang W, Lam E
(2017) Comprehensive definition of genome features in
Spirodela polyrhiza by high-depth physical mapping
and short-read DNA sequencing strategies. Plant J 89
(3):617–635. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.13400
OECD, FAO (2017) OECD-FAO agricultural outlook
2017–2026. OECD Publishing, Paris. https://doi.org/
10.1787/19991142
Olsen JL, Rouze P, Verhelst B, Lin YC, Bayer T,
Collen J, Dattolo E, De Paoli E, Dittami S, Maumus F,
Michel G, Kersting A, Lauritano C, Lohaus R,
Topel M, Tonon T, Vanneste K, Amirebrahimi M,
Brakel J, Bostrom C, Chovatia M, Grimwood J,
Jenkins JW, Jueterbock A, Mraz A, Stam WT, Tice H,
Bornberg-Bauer E, Green PJ, Pearson GA, Procaccini G, Duarte CM, Schmutz J, Reusch TB, Van de
Peer Y (2016) The genome of the seagrass Zostera
marina reveals angiosperm adaptation to the sea.
Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature16548
Rodell M, Famiglietti JS, Wiese DN, Reager JT, Beaudoing HK, Landerer FW, Lo MH (2018) Emerging
184
G. T. H. Vu et al.
smallest plants to solve the largest challenges.
Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge
Paul Skillicorn from Agriquatics, Ron Salpeter from
Hinoman, and Tsipi and Ben Shoham from Green Onyx,
and Christine Escobar from Space Lab Technologies for
sharing data on their companies and research and
reviewing this document to ensure its accuracy.
References
Alexandratos N, Bruinsma J (2012) World agriculture
towards 2030/2050: the 2012 revision. Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO), Rome
An D, Li C, Zhou Y, Wu Y, Wang W (2018) Genomes
and transcriptomes of duckweeds. Front Chem 6:230.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2018.00230
Balaji P, Satheeshkumar PK, Venkataraman K, Vijayalakshmi MA (2016) Expression of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) single-chain variable
fragment (scFv) in Spirodela punctata plants transformed with agrobacterium tumefaciens. Biotechnol
Appl Biochem 63(3):354–361. https://doi.org/10.
1002/bab.1373
Bhanthumnavin K, Mcgarry MG (1971) Wolffia arrhiza
as a possible source of inexpensive protein. Nature
232(5311):495
Cao HX, Fourounjian P, Wang W (2018) The importance
and potential of duckweeds as a model and crop plant
for biomass-based applications and beyond. In: Hussain CM (ed) Handbook of environmental materials
management. Springer International Publishing,
Cham, pp 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-31958538-3_67-1
Cao HX, Vu GT, Wang W, Appenroth KJ, Messing J,
Schubert I (2016a) The map-based genome sequence
of Spirodela polyrhiza aligned with its chromosomes,
a reference for karyotype evolution. New Phytol 209
(1):354–363. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13592
Cao HX, Wang W, Le HTT, Vu GTH (2016b) The power
of CRISPR-Cas9-induced genome editing to speed up
plant breeding. Int J Genom 2016:10. https://doi.org/
10.1155/2016/5078796
Childers DL, Corman J, Edwards M, Elser JJ (2011)
Sustainability challenges of phosphorus and food:
solutions from closing the human phosphorus cycle.
Bioscience 61(2):117–124. https://doi.org/10.1525/
bio.2011.61.2.6
Demmig-Adams B, Adams WW 3rd (2002) Antioxidants
in photosynthesis and human nutrition. Science 298
(5601):2149–2153. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.
1078002
Escobar CM, Escobar AC (2017) Duckweed: a tiny
aquatic plant with enormous potential for
bioregenerative life support systems. In: 47th international conference on environmental systems, Charleston, South Carolina, 16–20 July 2017 2017. ICES,
p 281
Firsov A, Tarasenko I, Mitiouchkina T, Shaloiko L,
Kozlov O, Vinokurov L, Rasskazova E, Murashev A,
Vainstein A, Dolgov S (2018) Expression and
immunogenicity of M2e peptide of avian influenza
virus H5N1 fused to ricin toxin b chain produced in
duckweed plants. Front Chem 6:22
Ghosh M, Sharma N, Gera M, Kim N, Huynh D, Zhang J,
Min T, Sodhi SS, Kim MB, Rekha V (2018) Insights
into phytase-containing transgenic Lemna minor
(L) as a novel feed additive. Transgen Res 27
(2):211–224
Gramzow L, Theissen G (2015) Phylogenomics reveals
surprising sets of essential and dispensable clades of
MIKC(c)-group MADS-box genes in flowering plants.
J Exp Zool B Mol Dev Evol 324(4):353–362. https://
doi.org/10.1002/jez.b.22598
Henchion M, Hayes M, Mullen AM, Fenelon M, Tiwari B
(2017) Future protein supply and demand: strategies
and factors influencing a sustainable equilibrium.
Foods 6(7):53. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods6070053
Hoang PNT, Michael TP, Gilbert S, Chu P, Motley TS,
Appenroth KJ, Schubert I, Lam E (2018) Generating a
high-confidence reference genome map of the greater
duckweed by integration of cytogenomic, optical
mapping and oxford nanopore technologies.
Plant J. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.14049
Landolt E, Kandeler R (1987) Biosystematic investigations in the family of duckweeds (Lemnaceae), vol 4:
the family of Lemnaceae-a monographic study, vol 2
(phytochemistry, physiology, application, bibliography). Veroeffentlichungen des Geobotanischen Instituts der ETH, Stiftung Ruebel (Switzerland)
Michael TP, Bryant D, Gutierrez R, Borisjuk N, Chu P,
Zhang H, Xia J, Zhou J, Peng H, El Baidouri M, Ten
Hallers B, Hastie AR, Liang T, Acosta K, Gilbert S,
McEntee C, Jackson SA, Mockler TC, Zhang W, Lam E
(2017) Comprehensive definition of genome features in
Spirodela polyrhiza by high-depth physical mapping
and short-read DNA sequencing strategies. Plant J 89
(3):617–635. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.13400
OECD, FAO (2017) OECD-FAO agricultural outlook
2017–2026. OECD Publishing, Paris. https://doi.org/
10.1787/19991142
Olsen JL, Rouze P, Verhelst B, Lin YC, Bayer T,
Collen J, Dattolo E, De Paoli E, Dittami S, Maumus F,
Michel G, Kersting A, Lauritano C, Lohaus R,
Topel M, Tonon T, Vanneste K, Amirebrahimi M,
Brakel J, Bostrom C, Chovatia M, Grimwood J,
Jenkins JW, Jueterbock A, Mraz A, Stam WT, Tice H,
Bornberg-Bauer E, Green PJ, Pearson GA, Procaccini G, Duarte CM, Schmutz J, Reusch TB, Van de
Peer Y (2016) The genome of the seagrass Zostera
marina reveals angiosperm adaptation to the sea.
Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature16548
Rodell M, Famiglietti JS, Wiese DN, Reager JT, Beaudoing HK, Landerer FW, Lo MH (2018) Emerging
184
G. T. H. Vu et al.