Climate change: Plants find ways to arm themselves against drought!

Climate change: Plants find ways to arm themselves against drought!

Dry periods and intense sunlight have significant effects on plants that are at risk from excessive water loss. Countermeasures involve a complex interplay of biological processes. An important element in this context is the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA), which is produced in various plant organs such as leaves, roots and ripening fruits. It plays a crucial role in plant response to water shortage by activating guard cells, also known as stomata, and encouraging them to close their pores to conserve water. Loud University of Heidelberg The activation of the cysteine ​​synthase complex in the chloroplast promotes ABA biosynthesis and then the closure of the pores.

The cysteine ​​synthase complex consists of two enzymes and evaluates various signals to activate the guard cells. These signals include, among others, the nutrient signal sulfate and a small protein molecule that is transported from the root to the shoot as soon as the soil dries out. In addition, strong light intensity produces a certain plant hormone, which also influences the activation of the complex. Research results show that metabolism in chloroplasts actively responds to stress signals and controls adaptations to environmental conditions.

Adaptation mechanisms and research in plant biology

Another interesting aspect is the development of a special Arabidopsis plant that can cope better with drought in the soil without being affected in growth. These advances are particularly important as efforts to develop new strategies to improve the resilience of crops to the impacts of climate change. The research work on this was funded, among others, with the support of the German Research Foundation and published in the specialist journal “Nature Communications”.

The role of ABA in regulating plant responses to stress is well documented. In addition to closing stomata, it inhibits plant growth and seed germination. These properties make it an important antagonist of hormones such as auxins and gibberellins, which stimulate growth. The findings on ABA are explained in the context of the challenges of climate change, where extreme weather events such as floods, hail and drought strongly influence the adaptability of plants Plant research.

Outlook for future research

Despite advances, there remain many open questions about the mechanisms by which plants sense and respond to environmental conditions. Climate change is forcing scientists to better understand the molecular components that water scarcity creates. What signals do plants use to respond to drought or flooding? Possible signals include changed hydraulic parameters and tension in the xylem.

The unique ability of plants to actively control their responses to abiotic stresses is being further investigated through advanced research approaches such as genome-wide studies and AI-powered analyses. The goal is to better understand the compromises plants have to make to respond to stress and how these adaptations can affect other vital processes. Further information about these development processes and their challenges can be found on the website Plant research.