During periods ofdrought, plants use a signaling molecule that animals
use to limit their water loss and gives them a kind of memory of how dry
the day was. The team of Professor Rainer Hedrich, plant scientist and
biophysicist from the Julius Maximilians University (JMU) W??rzburg
discovered this new strategy together with a team from the University of
Adelaide in Australia.

In the publication detailing the results of their study, the researchers
report that plants use the signaling molecule GABA (gamma-aminobutyric
acid) to remember the drought of a day. The drier it is, the more GABA
accumulates in the plant tissue over the course of the day. The next
morning, the amount of GABA decides how far the plant opens its leaf
pores. The opening width of these pores limits the loss of water.

The GABA effect was also observed in various crops, according to
Professor Matthew Gilliham from the University of Adelaide. "Under the
influence of GABA, for example, barley, broad beans, andsoybeansclose
their leaf pores," he explained.

Pflanzen erinnern sich an Trockenheit - Universit?¤t W??rzburg
(uni-wuerzburg.de)
[www.uni-wuerzburg.de]