USC Helps in Drought Crop Study

University of Southern California and Texas A&M University researchers are breeding drought resistant plants.

Researchers say plants that protect themselves with a thicker layer of leaf wax offer insight on how a plant can weather through dry times.

For the study, scientists grew winter wheat in two different areas of Texas.

One of the researchers, according to a USC news release, says the plants adapted to their environment to better protect their leaves, allowing them to respond well to reduced irrigation.