Arif Ashraf is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia.
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Understanding how plants pause and restart growth can help develop climate‑resilient crops
New research shows that plants can temporarily halt root growth under stresses like cold and drought, then rapidly restart it once conditions improve. By identifying the genes behind this “pause and push” response, scientists hope to develop crops that recover more quickly from extreme weather, strengthening food security in a changing climate.
April 27, 2026



