For over forty years, Arabidopsis thaliana has been the cornerstone of plant biology, fueling discoveries that shaped modern genetics, molecular biology, and agriculture. This commentary argues that, as climate instability and population growth intensify, investing in basic plant science is more crucial than ever. By showcasing how research on this tiny flowering plant continues to drive transformative innovations and sustainable solutions, the authors make a powerful case that the future of humanity depends on strengthening our understanding of plant biology.
Joanna D Friesner, Cristiana T Argueso, Wolfgang Busch, Thorsten Hamann, Lucia Strader, Mary Williams, Shuang Wu, Adrienne H K Roeder, In defense of funding foundational plant science, The Plant Cell, Volume 37, Issue 5, May 2025, koaf106, https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf106
Image: Short-day Arabidopsis plants experiment for drought and ABA2 content. Credit: Barak Bitman, Tel Aviv University
