Crops such as cauliflower, broccoli, and rape can be genetically engineered to make them more tolerant of global warming, according to new research from the John Innes Centre in the UK. The research focuses on identifying the genes involved in how plants release their seeds. By tweaking this 'genetic thermostat', those seeds can grow at higher temperatures, increasing crop yields in a warming climate. . Of course, this is also a potential solution to the problem of early seed dispersal (i.e. pods that split before harvest).

Study co-author Dr Vinod Kumar said: "It's like having a thermostat controlling the dispersal of seeds or the cracking of pods, and knowing how it works can be reprogrammed in the future for seed dispersal at higher temperatures. ".

In short, by modifying a previously discovered gene that controls pod fragmentation -- INDEHISCENT (IND) -- a more temperature-tolerant crop can be created. In the words of Dr. Kumar: "It's an achievable dream".

To test the connection between temperature and pods, researcher Dr. Xinran Li observed changes in the fruit of Arabidopsis plants as the temperature increased. It was found that at higher temperatures, the easily breakable cell walls became stiffer, which accelerated the pods' fragmentation.

To see if this finding applies to other species, the researchers conducted further observations on plants of the genera Capsella, Lepidium, and Brassica, and found that members of the Cruciferae are widespread. common (including cabbage, cauliflower, cauliflower, kale, canola, etc.).

The findings, led by Dr Vinod Kumar and Professor Lars Østergaard, paves the way for "alternative approaches to genetically modifying plants to cope with climate change".

Details of this study have been published in the recently published "Molecular Plant" journal, with the original title "Temperature modulates tissue-specification programme to control fruit dehiscence in Brassicaceae".