World's first "self-irrigating" plant discovered in Israeli desert
2 Jul 2009, 1544 Hrs

Add comment          Mail          Print          Write to Editor

* Education Directory * Exam Results * Who is Who * Information *Tutorials * Articles * Quote * Classified

Washington, July 2 Researchers from the University of Haifa-Oranim in Israel have managed to make out the "self-irrigating" mechanism of the desert rhubarb, which enables it to harvest 16 times the amount of water than otherwise expected for a plant in this region.

This is the first example of a self-irrigating plant worldwide.

The desert rhubarb grows in the mountains of Israel's Negev desert, where average precipitation is particularly low (75 mm per year).

Unlike most of the other desert plant species, which have small leaves so as to minimize moisture loss, this plant is unique in that its leaves are particularly large.

Each plant's rosette of one to four leaves reaches a total diameter of up to one meter.

Professor Simcha Lev-Yadun, Prof. Gidi Ne'eman and Prof. Gadi Katzir came across this unique plant growing in the desert while studying the field area with students of the Department of Science Education-Biology of the University of Haifa-Oranim, and noticed that its leaves are unusually large and covered with a waxy cuticle.

They observed an exceptionally ridged structure on each leaf, forming a leaf structure that resembles the habitat's mountainous topography.

The scientists explained that these deep and wide depressions in the leaves create a "channeling" mountain-like system by which the rain water is channeled toward the ground surrounding the plant's deep root.

Other desert plants simply suffice with the rain water that penetrates the ground in its immediate surroundings.

The findings have shown that the natural selection process has resulted in the evolution of this plant's extremely large leaves, which improved its ability to survive in the arid climate of the desert.

The results of experiments and analysis of the plant's growth - in an area with an average annual rainfall of 75 mm - showed that the desert rhubarb is able to harvest quantities of water that are closer to that of Mediterranean plants, reaching up to 426 mm per year.

This is 16 times the amount of water harvested by the small-leafed plants of the Negev desert region.

When the research team watered the plant artificially, they observed how the water flows along the course of the leave's depressed veins to the ground surrounding the plant's single root and then penetrates the ground to a depth of 10 cm or more.

Under the experimental conditions, water penetrated the ground only as deep as 1 cm.

"We know of no other plant in the deserts of the world that functions in this manner," the researchers concluded. (ANI)

Related Latest

Remains of Hammurabi seal discovered in Cairo White House prepares for first state visit by Manmohan Singh Obama's job approval rating dips below 50% for first time in his presidency Winston Churchill's World War II cigar discovered after 60 years Indus Valley civilization created world's first sophisticated financial exchange system Final scoreboard: India vs Sri Lanka, first Test India draw first Test with Sri Lanka Tea scoreboard: India vs Sri Lanka, day five, first Test Sikh Islam-hater to become first non-white member of Britain's racist BNP Gambhir century raises India's hope of saving first Test (Lunch Report)

Related Latest

Oz troops battling cocaine addiction in Afghanistan, Iraq ULFA leaders will be given safe passage if they lay down arms Scientists find "predator" corals that eat jellyfish Physicists move one step closer to quantum computing Scientists achieve breakthrough in bioethanol production from agricultural waste International expedition investigates climate change in Arctic New discovery could make plants disease resistant and high-yielding New website gives tips on how to prepare for and survive a tsunami India to tell US no role for China in South Asia Soon, "green" tires that boost mileage and cut CO2 emissions

• Scientists find "predator" corals that eat jellyfish
• Oz troops battling cocaine addiction in Afghanistan, Iraq
• Physicists move one step closer to quantum computing
• Scientists achieve breakthrough in bioethanol production from agricultural waste
• ULFA leaders will be given safe passage if they lay down arms

• भारतीय क्रिकेट की मजबूत दीवार
• कंगारूओं के आगे ढेर, चीतों से कैसे मुकाबला करेंगें शेर
• Reducing greenhouse gases may not be enough to slow global warming
• बीकानेर महापौर चुनावः एक विश्लेषण
• Deepawali: The Festival Of Lights