Scientists in South Korea have discovered a rapid molecular “switch” that reprograms plant growth in response to cold stress. The findings potentially unlock pathways to climate-resilient crops that can thrive under unpredictable climate conditions.
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“Cold stress doesn’t simply slow plant growth — it actively rewires hormone signaling to adapt root development,” says study lead professor Jungmook Kim at the Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology at the university.
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The study’s findings could help scientists develop crops that can continue growing even in such unpredictable or harsh weather conditions.
The authors explain that such varieties would improve “early-season growth establishment, increase nutrient uptake efficiency, and support sustainable agriculture” with lower fertilizer use.
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The researchers highlight the study’s potential for the development of what they call “synthetic molecules” or “biostimulants” that could protect seedlings during unexpected periods of extreme cold.
Over the next decade, the team expects the molecular pathway to enable crop cultivation in harsher climates and serve as a framework for precision breeding and CRISPR-based engineering of climate-resilient crops.
