Israeli find could help plants adapt to climate change

JERUSALEM (AFP) – Israeli scientists said on Wednesday they had identified genes that help plants weather harsh conditions, a discovery that could lead to the development of crops better able to endure climate change.

The study, carried out by scientists at Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, found that mutating one of two genes in a model plant increased its ability to survive better in desert environments.


“We manipulated these genes to enhance the plant’s own tolerance systems, making the plant more resistant to salinity, heat and drought,” Simon Barak, the author of the study, said in a statement released by the university.

“As we decode the exact mechanism linking the genes to the degree of tolerance, we will understand them better, but so far we have only had a tiny glimpse,” he added.

AFP