Gene gives plant a moisture sensor
Duke University researchers have identified a gene that could help scientists engineer drought-resistant crops. The gene, called OSCA1, encodes a protein in the cell membrane of plants that senses changes in water availability and adjusts the plant’s water conservation machinery accordingly.
“It’s similar to a thermostat,” said Zhen-Ming Pei, an associate professor of biology at Duke.
The findings, which appear Aug. 28 in the journal Nature, could make it easier to feed the world’s growing population in the face of climate change.
Drought is the major cause of crop losses worldwide. A dry spell at a crucial stage of the growing season can cut some crop yields in half.
Water shortages are expected to become more frequent and severe if climate change makes rainfall patterns increasingly unreliable and farmland in some regions continues to dry up. Coupled with a world population that is expected to increase by two billion to three billion by 2050, researchers worldwide are looking for ways to produce more food with less water.
The Latest on: Drought-resistant crops
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The Latest on: Drought-resistant crops
- Gwanda farmer (74) reaps big sorghum harvest, his maize crop a total write-offon April 30, 2024 at 4:40 am
A 74-year-old Gwanda-based farmer, Emmanuel Nare, is expecting a good harvest despite a severe drought during the 2023/24 summer cropping season after he put seven hectares under sorghum. Nare is ...
- How to protect your plants from spring snow in Coloradoon April 28, 2024 at 11:13 am
Xeriscaping, or planting native drought-resistant plants, is a great way to save water, and ensure your plants survive Colorado weather. "This is one of the most common plants that you see planted ...
- Farmers advised to cultivate drought resistant crops in Vellore, nearby districts to conserve wateron April 26, 2024 at 11:14 pm
The district administrations in Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur and Tiruvannamalai have advised farmers to cultivate crops like maize, rye and ragi that are drought tolerant as these districts are ...
- Are low-water crops a realistic way to cut back on Colorado water use? 10 southwestern farmers are trying to find out.on April 24, 2024 at 3:46 pm
Federal and Colorado programs pay farmers to save water, which often involves switching to crops that use less but have unreliable markets.
- Angry farmers in a once-lush Mexican state target avocado orchards that suck up too much wateron April 24, 2024 at 10:57 am
Rivers and even whole lakes are disappearing in the once green and lush state of Michoacan, as the drought combines with a surge in the use of water for the country’s lucrative export crop, avocados.
- Phoenix Embraces Arbor Day, City Plants for a Cooler Future with Drought-Tolerant Treeson April 24, 2024 at 8:23 am
Phoenix celebrates Arbor Day with a focus on planting trees suitable for its arid climate and urban forestry goals.
- AI Helps Nestlé Develop Drought, Disease Resistant Coffeeon April 23, 2024 at 3:38 am
Scientists at Nestlé are using AI to map the genomic structure of arabica coffee plants to uncover genetic traits that would make crops more resistant to disease and drought.
- Seeds From Wild Crop Relatives Could Help Agriculture Weather Climate Changeon April 22, 2024 at 2:31 pm
The hardy wild cousins of domesticated crops can teach us how to adapt to a hotter, more unpredictable future.
- The 14 Best Hedge Plants To Grow For Privacyon April 19, 2024 at 4:59 pm
There’s a better, more attractive solution out there—hedge plants. Hedges are shrubs planted close together to define outdoor spaces, create privacy, shelter garden rooms, and serve as a backdrop to ...
- What are 'orphan crops'? And why is there a new campaign to get them adopted?on April 18, 2024 at 7:30 am
The grass pea is one: a hardy crop that can thrive in a drought. An agriculturist is spearheading an effort to diversify what farmers grow as climate change threatens staples like corn and wheat.
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