Looking for a tree that grows well on dry land...Establishment of standards for resistance to the drying of oak trees

[Anchor]
Forests are on the verge of dying due to rapidly changing climates such as summer heat waves and autumn droughts around the world.

To overcome this, domestic researchers have found an important key to selecting trees suitable for the environment, such as hot, humid or dry areas.

Reporter Lim Null-sol reports.

[Reporter]
The green leaves turn yellow or red and the trees dry up and die.

As global warming continues to cause heat waves and droughts, the soil is dry, and trees are unable to withstand it.

The domestic situation is no different.

Forest damage caused by the climate crisis is intensifying around the world, with peeled trees facing death due to hail in May.

However, domestic researchers have created a "tree selection frame" that can select and plant trees suitable for the environment.

First of all, we evaluated the drought-resistant tree species without watering the oak trees growing in dry places and the giant oak trees living in relatively humid areas for 30 days.

As a result, even though its growth slowed in dry environments, it did not cause significant problems with photosynthesis, and it was more resistant and resilient to drying than giant oak.

In addition, when the ingredients were extracted by grinding dry leaves, it was also found that the reaction of substances such as proline and hydrogen peroxide is low to be a strong tree in dry areas.

[Kim Tae-rim / Ph.D. researcher (first author) of Forest Resources Research at the National Institute of Forest Science: It can be used as basic data for discovering genes and physiological markers to increase stress resistance in certain species through comparative analysis.]

The researchers explained that the study allows them to choose and plant trees suitable for growth depending on drought or wet areas.

In addition to other oak trees, it was expected that conifers could evaluate drought-resistant trees and establish afforestation plans to respond to climate change.

[Lim Hye-min / Researcher of Forest Resources Research Department at the National Institute of Forest Science: Since each tree can be planted differs depending on the environment, we want to select a tree that can be planted in the appropriate environment and contribute to the conservation and expansion of forests in Korea]

Even for trees that have adapted to the four seasons for a long time, the current climate crisis is an unaffordable change.

Based on this study, the researchers plan to create a system in which trees can adapt to rapid climate change and grow safely.

I'm YTN Science Lim Neul-sol.


Image recording: Hwang Yu-min