But the interesting thing the researchers at Cambridge University have discovered is that during the day the molecules detect light and at night they serve as temperature sensors. Thus, the information given by the molecules, during the day the plant can look for the most intense light sources and accelerate their growth.
In addition, the researchers found that these molecules can tell plants when the temperature rises or falls and then modify in their function the speed of their growth.
A great importance is given to the studies on the action of these molecules is due to the fact that global warming can bring important changes in the crops.
To know more about how these molecules act is of extreme importance for the development of adaptation capacities on the vegetables in the future that will be the basis for our feeding.
And for our readers interested in researching the behavior of plants in the face of different lighting and temperature conditions, we have several projects which can be worked on at a laboratory level, mainly in teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Projects could use LED light sources to analyze the influence on different colors, use of magnetic fields (how they would affect the functioning of phytochromes), and more.
