Belgian scientists have discovered that plant roots go through a ‘puberty’ phase, a sort of critical period in their development that research could use to make plants more resistant to climate change.
This was one of the findings of a study by a team led by Professor Bert De Rybel of the Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) in Ghent.
The study, published in the journal Science, explains how roots change their growth pattern during the first three weeks of their development.
Plants go through several stages of development, from seed to adulthood, and the study shows that roots undergo significant changes during this critical period.
By changing the orientation of their cell division, roots become capable of adapting to their environment, an ability that is crucial to their survival, according to the researchers.
Scientists have been able to identify a molecule that influences the production of the SPL13 protein in plant cells. This adaptation results in larger, deeper roots.
Dominique Audenaert, director of the VIB's Screening Core, believes this discovery offers new prospects for improving crop yields and developing plants that are more resistant to drought.
