Breeding for drought stress tolerance

Imagine that there is a big party happening outside, but unfortunately it's very hot and there's not much water around to drink. People are starting to feel thirsty and uncomfortable.

Now, pretend that there are different plants at this party. Some of them get very thirsty and wilting when there is not enough water, while others can stay alive and healthy even in drought conditions. Scientists want to make more plants that can survive drought, so they choose two of the drought-tolerant plants to be "mommy" and "daddy" plants.

They start by collecting tiny pieces from the mommy and daddy plants that will eventually grow into new plants. They put these pieces together in a special way so they can mix and match the mommy and daddy plant's traits. Then, they water the new plants with very limited water to see which ones can survive without water longer.

After many tests, the scientists will have created new plants that can handle drought and a lack of water. This means that even if there is not much rain, these plants will still grow healthy and strong just like the ones who had all the water they needed. The new plants will be better for the environment because they won't need as much water as before, and can help all the living things around them survive.