A team of scientists at the University of Calgary is making strides in understanding how plants adapt to environmental stressors, offering promising insights that could help make agricultural crops more resilient to heat, drought, and climate change. Dr. Sam Yeaman, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and his team have published groundbreaking research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), shedding light on how distantly related plant species—from sunflowers to poplars—adapt to similar stresses.
The study, led by Dr. Gabriele Nocchi, marks a significant step in understanding whether different plant species, despite their genetic differences, use similar genetic tools to respond to environmental challenges. The answer, according to Yeaman, is nuanced. “Yes, and no,” he explains. “While there is overlap in the genes used, plants also exhibit unique adaptive strategies. You could say that while each species has its own adaptation story, many share common genetic themes.”
Continue reading… “Understanding Plant Adaptation: New Research Could Improve Crop Resilience to Climate Change”