A tale of three gases - how plants prepare to survive flooding
Scientists have discovered how some plants can quickly detect that they are under water when flooded, and initiate processes that prevents them from drowning, a finding that could pave the way towards flood-proof crops that can thrive even under stressful conditions.
Floods cause widespread yield losses annually due to the extreme flood sensitivity of most major crops. Plants, like animals, need oxygen to live, and flooding stops plants breathing. In a study published in , researchers from the and Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 in The Netherlands demonstrate how plants use the gaseous hormone ethylene as a signal to trigger underwater survival.