Scientists in Switzerland have uncovered a hidden survival mechanism inside plant roots that could help develop crops capable of withstanding drought and extreme heat in the future. The discovery reveals how plants naturally build cork-like barriers in their roots to conserve water during dry conditions.
The research, carried out by teams from the University of Geneva and the University of Lausanne, focused on a waxy substance called suberin the same material found in cork. Inside plant roots, suberin forms a protective layer that controls water movement and prevents moisture from escaping into dry soil.
Using 284 natural varieties of the small flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana, researchers discovered that plants growing in hotter and drier climates developed much thicker suberin barriers compared to those from cooler, wetter regions. The finding suggests that plants naturally adapt their root systems to survive harsh environmental conditions.
Scientists identified a previously unknown gene responsible for controlling this barrier. The gene, named SBG1 (SUBER GENE1), acts like a switch that determines how much protective suberin a plant produces. Plants with more active versions of the gene created stronger root barriers, helping them retain water more efficiently during drought stress.
Researchers also found that the gene works closely with abscisic acid, a plant hormone released during water shortages. Together, they regulate how strongly roots respond to drought conditions by strengthening the protective root layer.
“This gene acts as a key regulator of suberin: when it is more active, the barrier becomes stronger; when it is disrupted, it forms less efficiently,” explained lead researcher Jian-Pu Han.
The discovery could have major implications for global agriculture as climate change increases the frequency of droughts and heatwaves worldwide. Scientists believe similar root barrier systems exist in major food crops such as wheat, rice, and tomatoes. By targeting genes like SBG1, plant breeders may eventually develop crops that require less water while remaining productive under extreme weather conditions.
Researchers say the study highlights how plants quietly adapt to environmental stress beneath the soil surface an area of plant biology that remains largely unexplored. The findings were published in the scientific journal Nature Plants.