By Jamie Martin
Drought is a major threat to agriculture, causing around 25% of crop losses in the U.S. It reduces plant growth, raises farming costs, and can lead to crop failure. To fight this, scientists are studying how plants respond to drought and looking for ways to protect them.
A team from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and Colorado State University has made an important discovery. They found a wild millet relative that can recover after extreme drought. It can repair itself even when nearly all its tissues are damaged by dryness. Researchers call this plant “resurrection millet” because of its ability to survive and regrow.
During drought, a process called embolism occurs. The water inside plants turns into gas bubbles that block the flow of water and nutrients. This makes it hard for plants to grow or survive.
Earlier, it was hard to study this process because the bubbles were invisible. Now, scientists are using special lab X-ray machines to scan whole plants and detect these embolisms.
“We have discovered that a wild millet relative is capable of reversing embolism formation in the water-conducting tissues,” said Sean Gleason, ARS research plant physiologist.
This breakthrough offers hope for other crops. The team hopes to transfer this drought-recovery trait to common crops like corn, rice, and wheat. That could protect food supplies and lower irrigation costs for farmers.
This research also matters for cattle farmers, as healthy grasslands mean more forage. The ability to regrow after drought could help both farms and natural ecosystems recover in the same year.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-neenawat555
Categories: National