Improving the resistance of plants to frost thanks to heavy metals

In a previous study, researchers from the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) noted that plants growing in soil polluted with heavy metals had a surprising level of resistance to frost. As one of the most harmful pollutants for ecosystems and human health, heavy metals offer plants a strong level of resistance to extreme weather conditions.

Researchers from the LIST specialising in plant sciences and biotechnologies wanted to look more deeply into the protective effect of heavy metals on plants. Consequently, they have launched a four-year PhD project named Xpress. Funded by the Luxembourg National Research Fund, Xpress, which stands for "Cross Protection between different abiotic stresses in non-herbaceous plants" began in October 2017. 

Until 2021, researchers will strive to identify those mechanisms which protect plants against the mortal effect of frost on roots led by heavy metals at the level of plant molecules. Cultivated in vitro or in greenhouses, these plants will be analyzed in LIST laboratories in Belvaux using the latest analytical tools. Once the mechanisms are identified, researchers want to promote these findings and reproduce them so as to protect plants against frost, and to do so without using heavy metals. The results obtained at the end of this project could be of great importance to the agricultural and horticultural sectors, as well as for all companies responsible for reclamation and value creation from land. 

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT XPRESS, VISIT THE PROJECT WEBPAGE