On Monday, a team of researchers from the United States announced they had uncovered a protein that plays a vital role in how plant roots use water and nutrients. They said their discovery could improve quality of a range of crops, and the way the agricultural sector deals with coming climatic uncertainties.

They identified a protein - ESB1 – that is involved in the early stages of development of the Casparian Strip, part of a 'cellular barrier' that controls the movement of water and nutrients between the plant and the soil. The Casparian strip is a key component in helping plants tolerate soil salinity, drought and flooding, which all stress plants.

The work on ESB1 is important as, until recently, little was known about the genes that drive the formation of the Casparian strip, which is made up of lignin, the polymer that gives wood its strength. The protein is involved in the creation of the thin band of lignin that gradually develops as plants grow.

The researchers said, "Plants use lignin deposition in many different cell types and in response to various environmental stresses. A better understanding of lignin deposition may eventually help scientists to manipulate lignin content in plants and boost crop and biofuels production, including in locations where growth conditions are not ideal."