ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Drought tolerance

Okay kiddo, let me explain what drought tolerance means in simple words. You know how plants need water to grow and survive, right? Well, drought is a period of time when there is not enough water for plants to grow properly. Drought tolerance simply means that some kinds of plants are able to survive even when they don't get enough water.

You see, some plants have special abilities that help them survive in dry and arid conditions. For example, some plants have longer roots that go deeper into the soil to find water. Others have thick leaves that can store water for longer periods of time. Some even have special structures in their leaves that prevent water loss through evaporation.

Scientists are working to develop new kinds of plants that are even more drought-tolerant. They are doing this by studying the genes and traits of plants that are already able to survive in dry environments. By understanding what makes these plants special, scientists hope to develop new plant varieties that can thrive even in the face of drought.

In short, drought tolerance is the ability of certain plants to survive and grow even when there is not enough water. Scientists are working to develop even better drought-tolerant plants in order to ensure that we can continue to grow food and other crops even in dry and arid regions of the world.