Scientists discover ancient plant survival mechanisms that could revolutionize agriculture’s response to climate change.
Why it matters: As global water scarcity threatens food security, understanding how some plants survive extreme dehydration could help develop more resilient crops. This research bridges a 450-million-year evolutionary gap between mosses and modern flowering plants.
- Drought increasingly threatens global agriculture and food production.
Key finding: Researchers identified MYB55, a genetic regulator in mosses and flowering plants, that helps manage dehydration survival.
“What if plants could withstand periods of harsh, dry environmental conditions? What if they could dry out but still remain viable, such that when water is again abundant, they spring back to life?”
Alyssa Kearly, postdoctoral scientist at the Boyce Thompson Institute
The process:
- Scientists sequenced genomes of two moss species (Syntrichia caninervis and S. ruralis)
- Compared gene expression during dehydration and rehydration
- Traced evolutionary connections to flowering plants
Keep in mind: While mosses and crops are very different, the shared genetic mechanisms suggest potential for practical applications.
Real-world impact: This research could lead to:
- More drought-resistant agricultural crops
- Enhanced seed storage capabilities
- Better understanding of plant evolution and adaptation
TL;DR
- Ancient moss survival mechanisms are still present in modern flowering plants.
- Related species use similar dehydration strategies but different rehydration approaches.
- Understanding these processes could help develop crops better suited to a changing climate.