Duke University researchers have identified a gene that could help scientists engineer drought-resistant crops. The gene, called OSCA1, encodes a protein in the cell membrane of plants that senses changes in water availability and adjusts the plant’s water conservation machinery accordingly.
“It’s similar to a thermostat,” said Zhen-Ming Pei, an associate professor of biology at Duke.
The findings could make it easier to feed the world’s growing population in the face of climate change.
Drought is the major cause of crop losses worldwide. A dry spell at a crucial stage of the growing season can cut some crop yields in half.