For centuries, farmers have struggled to protect their crops. Drought, insects and poor soil are common challenges. But there are parasitic mourners among the most quiet and destructive enemies.
These plants do not grow themselves. Instead, they are sprouting from healthy crops and steals important nutrients. In areas that are already facing food insecurity, the loss can be disastrous.
Now, researchers University of California, River Side It may be possible to find a unique solution. Their work is focused on the hormone and smart tricks of a curious plant: destroy yourself. This progress opens up a new chapter on how we think about mourning clothing, crops and survival.
Parasitic mournful clothing causes major losses of crops
In the Sahara Africa and parts of Asia, the fields of rice, George and other staple are often prone to parasitic mourning clothing. These are not just a problem. They can erase the entire crops. Depending on the same crop for farmers to feed their families and communities, the loss is destructive.
Unlike ordinary mourning clothing, these invading crops do not grow. They embedded themselves in the host root system. Once attached, they directly steal water and nutrients. The crops are weakened before they are fully developed. The result is low production, hunger and economic difficulties.
In these areas, farmers often have strong herbs or expensive biotechnology. To stop the spread from it, the LM leaves them with limited tools. This is the place where the UCR research offers new hopes – using their mourning clothing against them.
How the parasitic mournful clothing feels the signal of plants
At the center of this discovery, there is a class of plants hormones called strokectone. These chemicals, although not widely known beyond plant science, are extremely powerful.
Inside the plant, hormones help manage the development, root growth and stress response. But their external role is even more interesting.
“Most of the time, the hormones of the plant do not grow externally-they are not excluded,” said David Nelson, a biologist at the UCR plant. “Plants use strokectone to attract cookies in the soil, which has a beneficial relationship with the roots of the plants.”
This natural relationship between cookies and plants benefits both sides. Cooking helps collect nutrients from soil, while the plant offers carbohydrates. This is a beautiful system – unless the parasitic mourners enter the picture.
The mourning dress is ready to recognize strokeclactone. To them, the hormone is a green light. When they find it, they are excited and prepare to attack. In the same place, the researchers saw their opportunity.
Cheated parasitic mournful clothing
When a host is not present, can the mourning dress be mobilized? Without a host, mournful clothing is bursting, fails to connect with anything, and dies. This is the view that UCR scientists are examining.
Nelson said, “These are waiting for a signal to wake up. We can give them this signal at the wrong time – when they do not have food – so they will be discharged and dead.” “It’s like turning its switch against them, basically encouraging them to commit suicide.”
This concept is not just ideological. A parasitic plant, bromrip, produces thousands of seeds on the same pole. Those seeds have been inactive in the soil for years. But once they detect strikes, they wake up.
By releasing artificial versions of the hormone at the wrong time, researchers’ purpose is to reduce their numbers before damaging.
Build artificial hormones in the lab
Scients to overcome this process, scientists need a way to develop stroke -out of the plant. This is where microbial engineering comes. Under the leadership of Yaran Lee, first in the UCR and now in UC San Diego, the team created a novel system using bacteria and yeast.
Researchers engineered e -coli and yeast cells to copy the chemical routes found in the plants. These germs became small hormone factories. Along with them, the team can study each stage of strategic production in a clean, controlled sequence.
Nelson said, “This is a powerful system to investigate plant enzymes.” This enables us to characterize genes that have never been studied before and manipulates them to see it. How they are affected by a stroke. “
Beyond research, this method can allow the mass production of artificial strikes. This can mean practical, affordable tools for farmers in the future.
Evolution, enzymes and possibilities
The team’s work also highlights how these hormones were produced. He identified a key metabolic branch point – an internal decision to direct his chemicals through the plant to directly or apparently. This may be explained how Stragulactone played a unique role outside the body of the plants.
Understanding this evolution opens more doors. It helps scientists design a more precise synthetic version. They can fix the signal to work in different environments or target specific mourning clothing.
Researchers continue to test the strategy in more realistic settings. This idea seems hopeful, but the real sector is unexpected. The types of soil, weather and the lives of local plants affect its consequences.
Nelson said, “We are testing whether we can fix the chemical signal more efficient.” “If we can, this game changer can be for farmers fighting these mournful clothing.”
Parasitic mammal clothing shows the use of wider hormones
Although the research began in mind the protection of the crop, strokectone can offer wider benefits. Studies show that they may have anti -cancer or anti -viral properties.
Sitters are also interested in their use to fight the Greening Disease, which has destroyed the Florida lemon industry.
Because they affect how the cells grow and communicate, they are drawing the attention of scientists in hormone medicine and environmental science. What began as a way to help plants can help people even one day.
The smart solution to the growing problem
Parasite mourning clothing is a quiet threat to global food supply. But this new approach offers a clever response. By understanding and manipulating the gestures of natural plants, researchers may have found a way to protect the crops without damaging the environment.
This work is still developing, but its promise is clear. Through careful research, dedicated teams, and modern tools, science can help a stealthy trick of nature to a benefit to farmers everywhere.
The study was partially possible with NSF financing Plants 3D Trainship program at UCR. Under the leadership of Professor Julia Bailey Cyrus, the program combines biology, engineering and creativity. The purpose is to prepare students for a future where climate change increases food insecurity.
The study has appeared in the journal Science.
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