( nditions are right to seize the day for...)Researchers learn what sparks plant growth

"Our study says that the major target tissue in the shoot for steroid hormones is the epidermis. Our results also show that these hormones act locally. As similar studies are done for other plant hormones and in other organs, such as the root, we will know the major sites of action of each plant hormone and will be able to make models to predict how they work together to give rise to the tremendous diversity of shape and form found in the flowering plants," said Chory.

For the moment, the research is an important addition to the fundamental knowledge of plant growth and survival. But the research and the work to follow have much broader implications.

"If we want to feed over nine billion people by the year 2050, then understanding the basic mechanics of plant growth is required," said Chory. "This knowledge will ultimately lead to our ability to increase yield, while decreasing the need for fertilizer and pesticides."
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Source:Howard Hughes Medical Institute