A new gene has been discovered that confers tolerance to salinity in seeds, according to research just published in Nature Communications. This discovery could provide a new way to breed crops that are able to withstand salt-contaminated soils, a growing problem as climate change intensifies.

Researchers from the University of Queensland have identified a gene called SALT TOLERANCE REQUIRED FOR SEED DEVELOPMENT (STRS) that plays a role in seed development and is essential for conferring salinity tolerance in plants. The discovery of this gene could provide a new tool to breed salt-tolerant crops, which are an increasingly important part of global food security.

The researchers found that the STRS gene is involved in the control of several other genes, and that its expression is strongly correlated with the ability of a seed to withstand salinity. The research team also showed that STRS expression increases in response to salt stress, suggesting that it is part of a plant’s natural protective response to salinity.

This discovery is an exciting step towards understanding how plants cope with salinity and could provide an important tool for crop breeders in their efforts to produce salt-tolerant crops.

Read Full Article Here

source: Phys.org