Scarcity of food has 'super trees'

Scientists from the Department of Biology, Technion University (Israel) have successfully bred new drought-resistant varieties with the characteristics of low water content, high yield and freshness longer than conventional varieties.

Called "super trees " by experts, these transgenic plants are not only able to maintain hormone production zytokinin (which helps plants wither and persist in photosynthesis), but also uses less water in the process. growth.

Genetic transformation of Professor Gepstein.(Photo: unitedwithisrael.org)

Professor Shimon Gepstein, a member of the research team, said he had brought a transgenic kale plant home and 21 days later it began to wilt, while the long-lived ordinary mustard plants were 5-6 years old. day."These plants are capable of surviving drought, they can survive over a month without water and even if you water, they only need 30% of demand compared to normal plants , " Gepstein said. . Because of its longer survival, "super trees" can produce more harvest - an advantage that can benefit countless countries facing water scarcity.

Although the use of "genetically engineered crops" is still disturbing, Professor Gepstein says his new plant does not affect human health because they are modified by their own genes. not an external factor.

Currently, drought is the main cause of food scarcity in the world. Therefore, the effort to create "super trees" is considered a new solution to end this situation.