With wood.

More than 125 years ago Charles Darwin first reported that most plants grow in a spurt during the night, not the day – and this week, scientists are reporting the discovery of the genes that control this phenomenon. . .

This advance was made possible largely by the use of DNA microarrays and bioinformatics, most of which was done at OSU. This technology allows powerful computers to be combined with more conventional biological research to examine thousands of genes in an organism, in a very short period of time, and determine which ones are active and what their role is. . .

A glowing enzyme, luciferase, was attached to the genes that were identified as responsible for rhythmic growth. And it would glow, on and off, as the genes began functioning to create the hormones responsible for growth in the dark of night.

The research program also learned that most of the genes involved in this process have a common DNA sequence, which they called the "HUD" element for "hormone up at dawn."

Further studies are needed to identify a protein that attaches to this HUD element and regulates its function. Identifying that regulator, the scientists said, could open the door to ways to control plant growth and yield.

Smart graziers confine their animals to a small paddock that contains just enough forage to feed the mob for one day. Each day they are moved to a fresh paddock and won't return until after the grazed paddock has fully recovered. This simulates the natural migration of unfenced herds on open grasslands. It's good for the grass and good for the animals. It is possible to do now due to the development of low cost, highly effective electric fencing systems.

The smartest graziers move their animals in the afternoon because the forage is sweeter, more nutritious and more energy dense at that time. The animals then have a fresh, appetizing paddock that has not been trampled and fouled, with forage at its nutritional peak, that they graze with gusto. Grazing efficiency - the percentage of available forage that actually gets eaten - goes up and gains improve.

Knowing all this, I wonder what these researchers mean when they say that new understandings could "open the door to ways to control plant growth and yield"? The natural system - make energy all day, grow at night - seems pretty good. Switching cellular machinery from photosynthesis mode to respiration and growth mode after sundown seems like a smart system.