Researchers discover plant protein mechanism for heat resistance

Researchers from VIB, Ghent University, and KU Leuven have identified an evolutionary mechanism that helps plants manage extreme heat. The study reveals that the UBP24 protein plays a critical role in thermal stress response by stabilizing other proteins that keep stomata—tiny pores on leaves—open. This allows plants to evaporate water and cool themselves, acting as a biological relief valve.

This discovery is significant for food security and climate change adaptation, as it provides a potential pathway to develop crops that are more resilient to the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves.