Aspirin an Essential Tool for Plants during Drought

Researchers from Kings Park, Western Australia discovered that aspirin's key ingredient, salicylic acid, plays an important role in plant transpiration during drought conditions. Salicylic acid has the ability to protect the photosynthesis system, allowing plant growth despite water deficit condition. This is possible due to salicylic acid's role in assisting stomatal openings regulation preventing too much water loss.

Trials of using aspirin in plants reveal that given one liter of water for one month, 40 percent of the plants survived in comparison with 3 percent in untreated plants. The results of this study will be vital in the plant restoration project in the Thumama Nature Park, Riyadh.

Details of the study can be accessed at Science Network's website.