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New technology set to create higher crop yields and more resilient plants

Soru Epotok - stock.adobe.com
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114349403

New research done on the plant hormone, salicylic acid, demonstrates how it can improve disease resistance in plants and help tolerate external stressors like extreme temperatures and rapidly changing weather.

Salicylic acid has been used before to repel pests and various pathogens that cause disease, but is known to create issues in crop growth. However this new method separates growth reduction from the defense response in salicylic acid, where the plant can grow and withstand external factors.

Research is still underway on various crops, but if completely successful will create climate-resilient vegetation.

Mary Ryan Howarth is a recent graduate from the University of Georgia. She started as an intern at WUGA and quickly became a part-time reporter and producer. She also contributes to Athens News Matters and the Georgia Health Report. Some of Mary Ryan's interests include reading, arts and crafts, and running her podcast with her mom, HowARTh Gallery Gossip.
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