In a remarkable video, plants can be seen breathing in real-time. According to EarthSky, the close-up video was recorded by biologists at the University of California, San Diego, during one of their research projects. The scientists learned how plants exchange carbon dioxide and water with the air using their stomata, which are small openings found in practically all plant life. The National Science Foundation, which has made the film available, provided funding for the study. According to EarthSky, scientists called it a major breakthrough that will have an impact on the world’s food supply in the twenty-first century.
View the video:
The scientists believe that by using this process, it will be possible to improve carbon absorption and water usage efficiency in plants in the future. Critical as the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere keeps rising.
The scientists have submitted a patent. Additionally, they are looking into how to make tools out of their research for farmers and crop breeders.
Science Advances, a peer-reviewed magazine, has published the research outlining the discovery.
When the plant’s stomata are open, the interior is exposed to the environment, and water is lost in the air, which can cause the plant to become dry. Therefore, plants must regulate how long the stomata are open in order to maintain a balance between the uptake of carbon dioxide and water vapor loss.
The finding is relevant given that climate change has raised the temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide content, which has an impact on the equilibrium between carbon dioxide entry and water vapor escape through stomata.
Plants run the risk of drying out if they can’t find a new balance, particularly crops like wheat, rice, and corn. The discovery will allow scientists to modify the signals that cause the stomata to open, allowing plants to balance the uptake of carbon dioxide and the loss of water.
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