UC researchers work to help seeds sprout amid drought

University of California, Riverside, researchers are working to minimize effects of a plant hormone that reacts to drought stress.

As plants perceive hot, dry conditions, they emit abscisic acid, a hormone that helps them retain water. That can stop plants from germinating, leading to lower crop yields.

In a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, UC researchers say a new chemical modulator called Antabactin can disrupt that process, so plants can sprout seeds, even in drought. Researchers said applying Antabactin to barley and tomato seeds accelerated germination.

"If you block ABA, you mess with the chemical pathway that plants use to prevent seed germination," said Aditya Vaidya, UCR project scientist and study author. "Our new chemical, Antabactin, does exactly this. If we apply it, we have shown that dormant seeds will sprout."

Researchers are also working on another chemical to mimic effects of the ABA hormone. Opabactin slows a plant's rate of growth so that it can conserve water. It helps close pores in leaves and stems, which prevents water from escaping.