Jerusalem, 26 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Hebrew University researchers found that when tomato plants open and close the tiny pores on their leaves is as important as how many pores they have.
The pores, called stomata, take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis but also release water. The researchers found that watching the plants’ activity throughout the day gave a better measure of drought resistance than checking them at just one time.
The researchers hope to develop varieties that stay productive while using less water during drought and heat.
The strongest plants showed the most stomatal activity in the early morning, when there was enough sunlight for photosynthesis but temperatures were still lower, and the air was less dry.
