A great discovery that can inspire us

To protect themselves from drought or flooding, certain types of plants naturally secrete an acid similar to aspirin. A surprising process that could pave the way for ideas to protect other types of plants from the effects of climate change.

Acetylsalicylic acid for protection against water stress. It’s the substance (which can be compared to aspirin) that some plants are able to produce, a study published in.

To reach these conclusions, US researchers from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) studied a plant model known as “women’s arabite,” often associated with weeds.

The team of scientists discovered that in the case of prolonged and intense droughts, the studied plant activates a molecule known as MEcPP.

The accumulation of this molecule in plant cells promotes the production of salicylic acid, which will diffuse and spread its protective actions.

“It’s like plants use a pain reliever, just like us,” explains Wilhelmina van de Ven, a plant biologist at UCR and co-author of the study.

“Because salicylic acid helps become more common with climate change, the ability to increase plants’ ability to produce it is a step forward in addressing the effects of climate change on everyday life.

” Adds Cation Desch, co-author of a researcher and professor of molecular biochemistry at the University of California.

The researchers hope to learn more about the mechanism of stress reactions in this type of plant and to be able to apply it to other plants in particular. These effects are not limited to our diet.

Plants purify the air by sequestering carbon dioxide, providing shade, and providing habitat for many animals. The benefits of increasing their survival are enormous” however, sets out Katiyon astonished.