Scientists at Utrecht University have discovered how some plants can quickly detect that they are under water when flooded, and initiate processes that prevents them from drowning. Floods cause widespread yield losses annually due to the extreme flood sensitivity of most major crops. In a study published in Nature Communications, the researchers demonstrate how plants use the gaseous hormone ethylene as a signal to trigger underwater survival reactions. The identification of this signaling mechanism and the genes involved can potentially pave the way towards stress resilient, flood-proof crops that can sustain yields even under stressful conditions.
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Source: Phys.org