Desert Alga Study Offers Insights into Crop Resilience Amid Climate Change

Just now October 1, 2026 1 min read 📰 Phys.org

📋 Key Takeaway

Researchers have discovered that a single-celled green alga, Chlorella ohadii, from the Negev Desert can thrive in extreme conditions, which may lead to advancements in crop resilience against climate change. Haim Treves, a professor at RPTU, has been studying this alga, and his findings are published in New Phytologist. This research could have implications for agricultural practices in Iran, particularly in arid regions.

A single-celled green alga from the sand dunes of the Negev Desert has, within just a few years, become a key model organism in modern photosynthesis research. Chlorella ohadii helps researchers better understand plants' adaptability to extreme environmental conditions. These findings could help make crops more resilient to heat, drought, and other consequences of climate change in the future. Haim Treves, a professor of plant metabolism at RPTU, has been studying the desert alga since its discovery. His findings have now been published in the journal New Phytologist.