"Unlocking Drought Resilience: The Role of Tomato Exodermis Suberization"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Nature.com
Researchers have discovered that a suberized exodermis, a layer of cells with a protective barrier made of suberin, is crucial for tomato plants' drought tolerance. By profiling the tomato exodermis at a cellular level and characterizing suberin accumulation in response to drought and the plant hormone ABA, they identified key genes involved in suberin production. Mutations in these genes, including a MYB transcription factor and a feruloyl transferase, led to reduced drought tolerance, indicating the importance of suberin in helping tomato plants manage water deficit conditions. This study enhances our understanding of plant drought responses and could inform future agricultural practices for developing drought-resistant crops.