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Anti-drought plants genes cloning to start
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CHINESE scientists have discovered the anti-drought resistance mechanism of some desert plants like licorice and will soon start the cloning of the anti-drought and salt-resistant genes of the desert plants.
They said the efforts are aimed at helping increase crop output and vegetation in the country's vast arid areas.
Wang Genxuan, professor of Lanzhou University and expert of agricultural biology in arid area, said there must be genes in present plants in northwest that make them survive in very bad natural conditions.
The discovery and cloning of the genes can help improve the adaptability of crops in the arid farmland and finally lead to the increase of crop yield and vegetation.
Scientists discovered that when temperature grows and humidity drops to a certain level, the air vents inside the body of the desert plants would open and close and even vibrate regularly, a mechanism to keep moisture against drought.
Arid or semi-arid land covers more than half of China's land territory, and 20 to 27 million hectares of farmland in the country suffers from drought every year. Especially in North, Northeast and Northwest China, which contribute to 65 per cent of the country's total grain output, there is the greatest shortage of water.
(Xinhua)
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