Could future crops adapt to climate conditions?

A better understanding of how plant roots develop could open up the possibility of breeding new crops that are more adaptive to climate change, and in turn help with food security in the future. Researchers looking at the fundamental processes of plant development have identified a particular protein which controls how plant roots grow and adapt to soil conditions. Plant proteins that control root branching. They found that this protein can stop roots developing in certain conditions, such as water or nutrient shortage, limiting the plants' growth. Understanding this process could enable plants to be developed that can continue to branch roots even in challenging conditions like drought. In particular this could help develop food crops which are more adaptive to climate change, helping deliver global food security into the future. Food security.