Evolution of the Mechanisms of plants adaptation to climate change

Every gardener knows that a plant needs the right light, temperature, water and fertilizer to grow properly. Biologists call these non-living factors abiotic ones. Plants majorly adapt to abiotic stress caused by climate change, but the molecular mechanisms that perceive environmental changes and allow the plant to adapt accordingly are still largely unknown.
Using a small moss, which is a new model plant for genetic analysis, Delphine Cast investigated the role played by a family of regulatory proteins in this adaptation. She has thus proved that these genes are crucial regulators of plant development in response to abiotic stress. As these proteins are found in all plants, these fi ndings may ultimately lead to reducing the diffi culties faced by farmers suffering from recent climate changes and will probably change the way you look at your tomatoes forever.