ScienceDaily: Earth & Climate News


Underwater 'breathing' plants could be key to stress-resistant crops

Posted: 06 Feb 2022 12:44 PM PST

Wetland plants have a high tolerance against flooding due to the formation of 'lysigenous aerenchyma,' air channels that help transfer gases to the submerged roots. These channels also help the plant withstand drought and nutrient deficiency. Now, scientists investigate the underlying mechanism of aerenchyma formation to understand the phenomenon better, opening doors to the development of crops that are resilient against extreme weather changes.