New research identifies maize genotypes with doubled water use efficiency
Researchers studied 100 types of maize plants to see how efficiently they use water. They found that some plants are better at using water than others, with some needing less water to grow well. By measuring how much water the plants lose through their leaves in different conditions, they discovered that some plants are more sensitive to changes in humidity than others. This means that some plants can grow well even when it's dry, while others need more humidity to thrive. This information can help farmers choose the best plants for their fields, saving water and improving crop yields.