'Resurrection plants' bounce back after years of drought. Do they hold lessons for crops?

This article focuses on Jill Farrant’s pioneering research on resurrection plants—species capable of surviving extreme drought by drying out almost completely and then rapidly reviving when rehydrated. Based at the University of Cape Town, Farrant has studied the physiological and molecular mechanisms behind this desiccation tolerance for over 30 years, aiming to apply these insights to improve drought resistance in major crops like maize and wheat. Her work also includes efforts to cultivate Myrothamnus flabellifolia, a woody resurrection plant with traditional medicinal uses, as a sustainable cash crop benefiting local communities. Farrant is recognized both for her scientific contributions and her mentorship of young African scientists, and she continues to pursue applications of resurrection plant biology to address food security challenges amid climate change. [Extracted from the article]