Scientists isolate drought-resistant gene in barley

Research led by Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, will help crops resist global heating

The discovery of a gene in barley responsible for drought resistance will help future-proof crops against some of the effects of climate change, scientists believe.

Researchers spent nearly five years isolating the specific gene - HvMYB1 - from more than 39,000 genes in barley. Tests proved that plants in which the gene is more prominently expressed are better able to survive drought.