How Plants Branch Out to Access Water
New research has discovered how plant roots sense the availability of water in soil and then adapt their shape to acquire water. The discovery could enable crops to be bred which are more adaptive to changes in climate conditions, such as water scarcity, and help ensure food security in the future.
These findings, published in the journal Science, describe a new mechanism discovered by cooperating teams at the universities of Nottingham and Durham.
Roots are critical for plants to acquire water and nutrients from the soil. Water is essential for plant growth, yet changing climatic conditions makes acquiring water from soil even more challenging. Plants are able to adapt to different soil moisture(湿润) conditions by altering their root architecture, but up until now, it was not understood how this is done.
The researchers discovered that plant roots lacking a branching master gene were no longer able to branch out. They found that when roots are exposed to moisture, the certain gene remains active and promotes root branching, but when exposed to air, the gene is inactivated, blocking root branching.
Professor Sadanandom explained: ''Plants are relatively immobile and therefore their growth is very much dependent on their environment. Our research has identified the particular protein which can inactivate root branching, therefore limiting plant growth and development. ''
''This is hugely exciting as it opens up the possibility for us to help develop plants that could continue to branch roots even in challenging conditions such as water scarcity. ''
Professor Bennett concluded: ''Water is critical for plant growth, development and their survival. By studying how plant roots change their branching in response to water availability, we have uncovered a novel mechanism. This represents a major step forward and opens the way for breeders to develop new crops better adapted to climate change and helping deliver global food security. ''
It is absolutely imperative to ensure food security worldwide. Crop production must double by 2050 to keep pace with global population growth. This target is even more challenging given the impact of climate change on water availability and the drive to reduce fertilizers to make agriculture become more environmentally sustainable. In both cases, developing crops with better ability to acquire water would provide a solution.
【小题1】The findings of the research may have a positive effect on several global issues EXCEPT ________.| A．solving water scarcity | B．increasing crop production |
| C．preserving the agriculture | D．ensuring food security |
| A．branch out without a special gene | B．grow in challenging conditions |
| C．alter inactivated roots | D．breed soluble nutrients |
| A．fascinating | B．influential |
| C．enormous | D．urgent |
| A．Why plants have different abilities to adapt to soil moisture conditions. |
| B．How a branching master gene responds to a particular fertilizer. |
| C．How plant roots alter their shape according to the soil moisture. |
| D．How the particular protein inactivates root branching when exposed to water. |
