Ethanol Helps Plants Survive Drought (cnn.com) 26
Bruce66423 shares a report from The Telegraph: Academics from Japan have found that ethanol helps make plants more drought-resistant (Warning: source paywalled; alternative source) and better able to survive an extended bout of dry weather. Experiments found that getting plants drunk helps crops flourish while sober plants become shrunken and disheveled. Plants lose water through their leaves when pores called stomata open to allow it to escape, but ethanol helps keep these closed, the scientists found, thus improving water retention. Genetic analysis of the plant also showed that plants switch on drought-fighting genes when ethanol is picked up by the roots. This not only stopped the loss of water through the vent-like stomata but also saw the plant activate a process where it actually uses the alcohol for fuel.
Photosynthesis, the vital process that plants use to make energy from sunlight, needs water, but in the study, published in the journal Plant and Cell Physiology, the team found the plant can do this with ethanol instead in times of drought to further conserve dwindling supplies while also still making energy. This metabolizing of alcohol also means that shops would not be stocked with alcohol-infused foods if an alcohol-aided plant was harvested as it would have long ago been turned into energy by the plant. "There are some interesting questions to ask about WHY this pathway exists in plants," adds Slashdot reader Bruce66423. "The article doesn't talk about the concentration needed."
Photosynthesis, the vital process that plants use to make energy from sunlight, needs water, but in the study, published in the journal Plant and Cell Physiology, the team found the plant can do this with ethanol instead in times of drought to further conserve dwindling supplies while also still making energy. This metabolizing of alcohol also means that shops would not be stocked with alcohol-infused foods if an alcohol-aided plant was harvested as it would have long ago been turned into energy by the plant. "There are some interesting questions to ask about WHY this pathway exists in plants," adds Slashdot reader Bruce66423. "The article doesn't talk about the concentration needed."
Dang! (Score:3)
This metabolizing of alcohol also means that shops would not be stocked with alcohol-infused foods if an alcohol-aided plant was harvested as it would have long ago been turned into energy by the plant.
And here we thought we'd have the answer to Pop Eye always getting into fights!
Ethanol (Score:5, Funny)
Brawndo is what plants crave! (Score:3)
because Brwando has electrolites.
Everyone knows that.
I found a video on the internet so it must be true.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
So plants are German? (Score:3)
Reminds me of the story of the German bake [historyofyesterday.com]r who survived the sinking of the Titanic who consumed a large amount of alcohol prior to the ship's sinking which helped him survive the frigid waters.
Re: (Score:2)
So Jack could've survived holding onto Rose.
Re: (Score:2)
If you read that article though, the several layers of clothing and life-belt almost played a bigger role in his survival. The alcohol may have helped prevent the initial cold water shock (as would the clothing), but would have made hypothermia more likely too.
brew your own plant food (Score:5, Interesting)
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Fermentation occurs naturally in compost piles anyway. Go for it. I throw about 15 gallons of apple pomace onto mine every couple of years after pressing out the juice to make hard cider. It's pretty dry when it goes on but a few days after the next rain it smells much the same as my fermentation vessel.
I see (Score:5, Funny)
That gives the lush lettuce a whole different meaning.
Interesting (Score:5, Funny)
Apparently, [jstor.org] some plants produce ethanol in response to drought stress.
Though I cannot speak empathetically to the stresses of plants, I have observeded members of the animal kingdom introducing ethanol to their systems to relieve stress.
Re: Interesting (Score:3)
I plead not guilty to these nefarious accusations.
Or do I ;)
I hope they don't dog pile on you (Score:2)
Doggone it. I hope the accusations do not manifest into multifarious nefarious claims against you.
Nor don't I?
I must be a plant then (Score:3)
Ethanol has also helped me survive the drought.
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ethanol will get you through times of no water better than water will get you through times of no ethanol
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Ethanol has helped me survive *many* things...
Orthodox religious implications? (Score:3, Interesting)
I work in food manufacturing. We have to be aware of various religious law like halal and kosher, make business decisions based on specific consumer groups. I'm not a religious scholar by any means, I'm actually fairly agnostic. But from what I know ethanol is haram, which is to say 'forbidden' by most Islamic interpretations. I believe Islam isn't the only religion concerned with it, also some schism Christian groups and Eastern religions.
I'd be curious whether this would be interpreted as enough to make the food haram, or otherwise forbidden.
Re: (Score:2)
Label it, like they do now with kombucha. https://www.ttb.gov/kombucha/labeling [ttb.gov]
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Islam and alcohol is a funny thing. All the muslims I know in the USA drink. They tell of situation back home where people swear they don't drink... but they sneak out and drink like fish. Alcoholism is massive problem in Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. Most the Arab and middle east countries actually have booze and bars, for those who know where to look
Eat your veggies (Score:2)
Maybe this will convince the teens to eat their veggies.
Little Bar of Horrors (Score:2)
"Hit me again, Seymour, and put it on my tab. *hic*"
That's funny... (Score:2)
Experiments found that getting plants drunk helps crops flourish while sober plants become shrunken and disheveled.
That's funny because after a good number of drinks I'm usually pretty shrunken and disheveled.