"Tomato Plants' Root Adaptations Enhance Drought Survival through Suberin"
Researchers at UC Davis have discovered that tomato plants produce a water-repellent polymer called suberin in their roots' exodermal cells to cope with drought. This substance helps to prevent water loss by blocking its flow towards the leaves. The study identified genes essential for suberin production, which, when mutated, resulted in plants less capable of handling water stress. This finding could lead to the development of drought-resistant crops, and further field tests are planned to assess suberin's effectiveness in real-world conditions.