Research reveals how crop roots penetrate hard soils ANI | Updated: Jan 15, 2021 23:16 IST
Washington [US], January 15 (ANI): Scientists have discovered a signal that causes roots to stop growing in hard soils which can be switched off to allow them to punch through compacted soil - a discovery that could help plants to grow in even the most damaged soils.
As per the findings published in the journal Science an international research team led by scientists from the University of Nottingham s Future Food Beacon and Shanghai, Jiao Tong University has discovered how the plant signal ethylene causes roots to stop growing in hard soils, but after this signal is disabled, roots are able to push through compacted soil. The research has been published in Science.
New discovery paves way for crops to be grown in damaged soils
15 January 2021 |
Hard soils represent a challenge to agriculture that can reduce crop yields over 50%
Scientists have discovered a signal that causes roots to stop growing in hard soils which can be ‘switched off’ to allow them to punch through, a finding which may have huge implications for agriculture.
The discovery could help plants grow in even the most damaged soils, according to scientists from the University of Nottingham and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
They found how the plant signal ‘ethylene’ causes roots to stop growing in hard soils, but after this signal is disabled, roots are able to push through compacted soil.