Scientists at the Salk Institute are excited after a groundbreaking study revealed new insights into how older plants defend themselves against environmental threats. These findings could help scientists develop plants that store more carbon for longer periods.
Published in Developmental Cell, the study explains how these discoveries could improve future plant engineering.
“Plants play a crucial role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil,” said senior author Professor Wolfgang Busch. The researchers focused on phellem cells, which are rich in suberin, a molecule that helps plants capture and store carbon. Suberin allows for longer-lasting carbon storage compared to what is stored in stems and leaves.
While past research focused on young plants that grow new roots, the Salk team studied older plants to understand how they use phellem cells and other structures to resist temperature changes, drought, and microbial infections. The protective layer plants develop is called the periderm, which the scientists studied using single-cell sequencing to create the first detailed gene expression atlas of mature plant cells.
“Collecting this level of detail in mature plants across time has never been achieved before,” said first author Charlotte Miller. “Other studies grind up entire roots and study them in bulk, but single-cell analysis allowed us to understand the genetic development of each individual cell type in the periderm.”
These findings could help scientists enhance new plants with more suberin, improving carbon storage and resistance to root rot. Their goal is to engineer plants with more phellem cells, higher suberin levels, and better long-term carbon capture.
This study is part of a larger effort to maximize plant-based carbon absorption. Companies like Living Carbon are exploring sporopollenin, a highly durable plant molecule, while Binghamton University is working on artificial plants for indoor carbon capture. The Bill Gates-backed startup Graphyte is testing carbon-filled plant bricks buried underground.
Since carbon pollution contributes to global warming and extreme weather like droughts, scientists believe plants can play a key role in reducing emissions.
The next step for the Salk team is to study all stages of phellem cell development to optimize their formation. They will also examine how suberin-rich cells outside the periderm help plants regulate lateral root growth.
“Our work not only advances plant science but also opens the door to creating more robust crops and enhancing carbon sequestration through plant roots, providing solutions to both agricultural and climate challenges,” concluded Busch.
