By: Dr. Ripudaman Singh (Special Correspondent ICN Group) & Hemant Kumar ( Agriculture Correspondent ICN Group)
NEW DELHI: In a major breakthrough, a group of scientists, comprising one of Indian origin, have developed plants with better chances of surviving droughts by increasing the natural ability of their leaves to preserve water.
A group of researchers said that the new method has helped some plants survive 50% longer in drought conditions and could eventually benefit major crops such as barely, rice and wheat, which are crucial to world food supplies.
Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) mapped a new molecular signalling pathway that controls the ability of plants to block the pores on their leaves to conserve water during drought conditions and found that chloroplasts, better known for their role in photosynthesis, are actually key players that work together with plant hormones during drought stress.
The researchers, including Diep Ganguly (the scientist of Indian origin) from the ANU found out that chloroplasts in the cells surrounding the pores on leaves, called stomata, can sense drought stress and thereby, activate a chemical signal that closes the stomata to conserve water.
The team conducted tests on barley and Arabidopsis, a small flowering native plant and enhanced levels of the chloroplast signal, which helps plants close the stomata.
“Boosting the levels of the chloroplast signal also restores tolerance in drought-sensitive plants and extended their drought survival by about 50%,” said Kai Chan from the ANU.
“Boosting the chloroplast signal, by breeding, genetic or agronomic strategies, could be the key to help plants preserve water and boost drought tolerance, he said.
“This finding was completely unexpected and opens new avenues of enquiry into how chloroplasts can contribute to plant responses to the environment,” said Barry Pogson from the ANU.
