New research in Austria reveals chickpeas as a sustainable solution for drought resilience

Climate change is significantly affecting food security, particularly in Central Europe, where long periods of drought stress have become increasingly common. In response to this pressing issue, an international research team led by molecular biologist Wolfram Weckwerth at the University of Vienna has conducted a pivotal study exploring the natural variation among different chickpea genotypes and their resistance to drought stress. The findings were recently published in the specialist magazine The Plant Biotechnology. The study sheds light on the decline of plant genetic diversity, which poses a major threat to plant productivity and harvests. Despite the existence of around 7,000 edible crops, two-thirds of global food production relies on just nine species. “This narrow genetic base can have several negative consequences, such as increased susceptibility of plants to diseases and pests, reduced resistance to factors such as drought and climate change, and increased economic ...