Discovered genes resistant to frost in plants

Australian scientists have found a gene that can prevent frost damage to wheat plants. Estimating this gene helps save millions of dollars every year for farmers around the world.

Wheat plant (Photo: oznet)

Over the past few years, the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (Australia) has been conducting research on a number of plants and living organisms and surviving in harsh environments.

Scientists from the Department have studied how some plants overcome extreme cold conditions in Antarctica while other species living in the same environment will simply be frozen and damaged. completely and die. Globally, about 5 to 15% of agricultural products are lost every year due to frost.

Researchers from Victoria's Department of Primary Industries have discovered a frost-tolerant gene in Antarctic grass - the plant still lives in temperatures of minus 30 degrees Celsius. They plan to use the gene. This is to create wheat and barley plants with frost resistance.

The team is also studying drought and some plants have better drought resistance. At the same time, they want to study the tolerance of salt to plants because in Australia there are trees still growing in saline environments.

Dr. Robert Sward, Biotechnology Policy Director of Victoria's Department of Primary Industries, said when scientists understand the structure of frost resistance, drought resistance and salt tolerance of plants, knowledge speaks. In general, and knowledge of some plants, such as Antarctic grasses, they can apply research results to agricultural biotechnology.

Minh Thuong