Scientists unveil key to drought resistance
segunda-feira, fevereiro 27, 2023
Growing wheat in dry conditions may be easier in the future, thanks to new genetic research from the University of California, Davis. An international team of scientists has found that the correct number of copies of a specific group of genes can stimulate the growth of longer roots, allowing wheat plants to extract water from deeper sources. The resulting plants have more biomass and higher grain yield, according to an article published in the journal Nature Communications.
The research provides new tools to modify the wheat root architecture to resist water scarcity conditions, said Gilad Gabay, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis and first author of the paper. "Roots play a very important role in plants," he said. "The root absorbs water and nutrients to sustain plant growth. This discovery is a useful tool for root system engineering to improve yield in dry conditions in wheat."
Much has been done to improve wheat production, but losses due to water stress can negate other improvements. Plants that can adapt to water scarcity conditions but have higher yields will be key to producing enough food for a growing population in the face of global warming.
Until now, little was known about the genes that affect the structure of the wheat root. The discovery of the gene family, known as OPRIII, and that different copies of these genes affect root length is a significant step, said distinguished Professor Jorge Dubcovsky, project leader at Gabay's lab. "The duplication of OPRIIII genes results in increased production of a plant hormone called jasmonic acid that causes, among other processes, accelerated production of lateral roots," Dubcovsky said. "Different doses of these genes can be used to obtain different roots."
Source: Agrolink
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