In a Death Valley Shrub, Scientists See a Blueprint for Heat-Proof Crops
In the scorching heat of Death Valley, California, a small shrub known as Arizona honey is able to thrive in temperatures above 120 degrees F (about 50 degrees C). A new study reveals how the plant, Tidestromia oblongifoliacan withstand such harsh conditions, findings that could prove useful in designing crops that can withstand more extreme heat.
For this study, scientists recreated the oppressive heat and intense sun of Death Valley summers in the laboratory, submitting the seeds of T. oblongifolia and other plants in brutal conditions. They discovered that even if other desert plants stopped growing, T. oblongifolia In fact, it grew faster, tripling its mass in just 10 days.
“When we brought these seeds back to the lab, we were just fighting to get them to grow,” said Karine Prado of Michigan State University. “But once we managed to mimic Death Valley conditions in our growth chambers, they took off.”
Looking closely T. oblongifoliaPrado and his colleagues recorded changes at the cellular level that allowed the plant not only to protect itself against heat damage, but also to use more carbon dioxide and produce more energy. Within two weeks, its optimal temperature for photosynthesis had increased to 113 degrees F (35 degrees C).
Researchers say T. oblongifolia is the most heat-tolerant plant ever documented, and they believe their findings, published in Current biologycould one day help engineer crops that can better withstand the extreme heat fueled by global warming.
“Desert plants have spent millions of years solving challenges that we are only beginning to face,” said Seung Yon Rhee of Michigan State University. “If we can learn to replicate these mechanisms in crops, it could transform agriculture in a warmer world.” »
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