A UC Riverside-led team has created a chemical to help plants hold onto water, which could stem the tide of massive annual crop losses from drought and help farmers grow food despite a changing climate.
A UC Riverside-led team has created a chemical to help plants hold onto water, which could stem the tide of massive annual crop losses from drought and help farmers grow food despite a changing climate.
“Drought is the No. 1 cause, closely tied with flooding, of annual crop failures worldwide,” said Sean Cutler, a plant cell biology professor at UC Riverside, who led the research. “This chemical is an exciting new tool that could help farmers better manage crop performance when water levels are low.”
Details of the team’s work on the newer, more effective anti-water-loss chemical is described in a paper published today in Science. This chemical, Opabactin, is also known as “OP,” which is gamer slang for “overpowered,” referring to the best character or weapon in a game.
“The name is also a shoutout to my 10-year-old at home,” Cutler said.
Read more at University of California - Riverside
Image: Recovery from drought stress imposed on wheat. Plant treated with OP on the right. (Credit: UCR)
