The secret art of adaptation

6 March, 2025/in academic/by arvensisagro

How plants thrive in the face of adversity

Our planet has incredibly diverse environments that look like something out of a science fiction movie. From scorching deserts and rainforests, to cold tundras and rugged mountains, to mysterious wetlands, almost everywhere plants grow! How is this possible?

Our planet is made up of about 70% water and 30% land. Of that land, about 31% is covered by forests, and if we add other types of vegetation (grasslands, shrubs, bushes, etc.), almost half of the ice-free land is home to plant life. Meanwhile, according to recent studies, 8 billion people live on only 7.6% of the earth’s surface. The plant kingdom has adapted much better than humans!

Types of adaptations: plant survival tricks

To live in environments that would seem impossible to us, plants have developed surprising strategies:

a) Morphological adaptations

Succulent leaves and deep roots

In deserts, where water is very scarce and valuable, cacti have evolved to have leaves transformed into spines (less surface area to lose water!) and succulent tissues that store reserves. In addition, their roots can extend several meters deep to reach water hidden beneath the sand.

Aerial roots in epiphytic plants

Some orchids and bromeliads grow on other trees and have roots that absorb moisture from the air. To do this they have specialized roots, covered with a spongy tissue called velamen, which acts as a “sorbent” to absorb water and nutrients directly from the air and rain.

b) Physiological adaptations

CAM photosynthesis

Desert plants, such as certain cacti, use a trick called CAM photosynthesis. Instead of opening their tiny “pores” (stomata) during the day when the sun heats up and water evaporates, they open them at night! This reduces water loss by as much as 70-80% compared to other plants.

Production of protective compounds:

Many species synthesize molecules such as glycine-betaine, which acts as an internal shield helping to maintain osmotic balance and protect their cells from salt or drought stress.

c) Behavioral adaptations:

Nocturnal leaf closure

Some plants, like us seeking shelter from intense sun, close their leaves at night or on very hot days to conserve moisture and protect themselves from potential predators.

Extreme survival strategies

When conditions get really tough, some plants have developed unconventional strategies:

Carnivorous plants

In extremely nutrient-poor soils, some plants such as Venus flytrap or pitcher plants have decided to change the rules of the game: instead of absorbing nutrients from the soil, they capture insects. By decomposing their prey, they obtain the nitrogen and other minerals they need to grow.

Halophytes (salinity-resistant plants)

In coastal areas or in saline soils, where salt is a deadly enemy for most plants, there are halophytes. These species, such as salicornia, have developed mechanisms to expel or store excess salt in their tissues without damaging themselves.

Lessons we can learn for agriculture

If plants can survive in the most extreme conditions, imagine what we can learn from them! Here are some ideas that can inspire us:

Crops resistant to drought and saline soils:
Taking a cue from desert and halophyte plants, it is possible to develop crop varieties that consume less water or can grow in soils with high salt levels.
Intelligent water management:
Water retention strategies used by cacti and other species can inspire irrigation systems and water conservation techniques in agriculture.
Use of genetics and natural selection:
Understanding which genes allow plants to survive in extreme environments helps transfer those traits to commercial crops, either through traditional selection or gene-editing techniques.
Synthesis of protective compounds:
Glycine-betaine is just one example of how some plants produce molecules that protect their cells from stress. Incorporating these compounds into agricultural formulations (such as our products) can boost crop resistance to drought, high salinity and other climatic challenges.

Nature as inspiration

The incredible adaptability of plants is a reminder of nature’s resilience. They show us that, even in the most extreme conditions, life finds a way to persist.

That’s why at Arvensis we look closely at the plant world and learn from it. Try our products that boost the resistance and adaptation of your crops, using nature-based strategies —such as the application of glycine-betaine in GLIBETINA— to meet the challenges that the field presents us with every day.