Scientists are searching for the genes of a few plants that can withstand months of drought and then regreen in a matter of hours in order to protect crops from increasing droughts.
Jill Farrant first saw that a number of plants around her seemed to be reviving while she was a child growing up in South Africa in the 1970s.
She later discovered that some plants can go up to six months without water. When watered, their leaves will regreen in a matter of hours after turning brown and brittle to the touch. In just one day, they have reverted to their previous state and are able to carry on with photosynthesis.
