Key Nutrients Identified to Help Plants Adapt to Rising Global Temperatures

Researchers at the Salk Institute have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how plants respond to rising global temperatures, projected to increase by 2.7°F by 2050. The study, published in Nature Communications on June 1, 2024, reveals that plants' rapid root growth in response to high temperatures comes at the cost of depleting two vital nutrients: nitrogen and phosphorus.

The study found that plants respond to high temperatures by instructing their root systems to grow faster. This rapid root growth is aimed at absorbing more water and nutrients, but it is unsustainable and potentially harmful in the long term. The accelerated root growth depletes nitrogen and phosphorus levels, making the plants less nutritious when consumed.

If the soil contains low amounts of these nutrients, plants revert to slower root growth and do not respond adequately to higher temperatures. The study identified two proteins, HY5 and NRT1.1, that play a vital role in regulating root growth and nutrient uptake in response to temperature changes.

The implications of this discovery are far-reaching. It will inform the engineering of climate-resilient crops, such as wheat, rice, and corn, as part of the Salk Ideal Plants initiative. These crops are designed to capture carbon and withstand the effects of climate change, ensuring a sustainable food supply for the future.

Understanding how plants adapt to rising global temperatures is essential for ensuring a sustainable food supply and mitigating the impacts of climate change. If plants are unable to adapt, it could lead to food shortages, economic instability, and increased vulnerability to climate-related disasters.

Salk Professor Wolfgang Busch emphasized the importance of this discovery, stating, "Global warming will lead to significantly increased temperatures on Earth, and plants are inevitably going to respond. The fact that higher temperatures deplete these important nutrients in plants is a real concern for the future of human and animal diets, and certainly something we want to account for as we work to design more resilient crops."

Sanghwa Lee, the first author of the study, added, "Having connected the dots between these nutrients and thermomorphogenesis, we can now work to engineer plants and optimize fertilizers that ensure growth isn't limited by lack of nitrogen and phosphorus in future higher temperatures."

The study utilized Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant, to investigate the process of thermomorphogenesis, or how plant growth and development change in response to environmental temperatures. Researchers also examined rice and soybean plants and found similar responses to high temperatures.

Supported by the Salk Utilizing Plant Potential Initiative and Michigan State University, the research aims to develop crops that can continue growing their roots even when nitrogen and phosphorus are scarce, ensuring a sustainable and nutritious food supply for a growing global population.

As global temperatures are projected to rise by 2.7°F by 2050, understanding how plants adapt to these changes is vital. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the relationship between temperature, root growth, and nutrient availability, paving the way for the development of resilient crops that can thrive in a warming world.

Key Takeaways

• Plants respond to high temperatures by growing roots faster, depleting nitrogen and phosphorus.
• Rapid root growth is unsustainable and makes plants less nutritious when consumed.
• Two proteins, HY5 and NRT1.1, regulate root growth and nutrient uptake in response to temperature changes.
• Understanding plant adaptation to rising temperatures is crucial for ensuring a sustainable food supply.
• Research aims to engineer climate-resilient crops that can thrive in a warming world.