Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a typical tropical root crop, which can be cultivated on marginal lands to withstand the dry season for 4~6 months by retaining only a few apical leaves of the stem; When the rainy season comes, the plants can quickly resume growth. The mechanism by which this peculiar tropical plant is drought-tolerant and poor soil-tolerant has not yet been revealed.

Recently, Ma Qiuxiang et al. of our center published "The aquaporin MePIP2;7 improves MeMGT9-mediated Mg²⁺ acquisition in cassava" research paper may provide the answer. The study found cassava aquaporin protein MePIP2; 7 can directly interact with the magnesium transporter MeMGT9 on the plasma membrane, and cooperate with the synergistic transmembrane transport of water and magnesium ions in cassava vascular bundle cells, thereby improving the absorption of water and magnesium to accelerate the growth of cassava.

Article link: https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.13552