Ethanol-based technology for enhancing drought and heat stress tolerance in crops
A plant treatment technology using ethanol to enhance tolerance to drought, high-temperature, and high-salinity stresses. Validated in cassava under greenhouse conditions, this affordable and environmentally friendly approach aims to increase agricultural production in poor environments where crops struggle to grow.
Overview
This technology uses ethanol treatment to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, including drought, high-temperature, and high-salinity conditions. The approach is based on discoveries that ethanol application improves stress resilience across multiple plant species. The current focus is on cassava, a vital tropical crop known for its ability to survive under harsh conditions. By improving cassava's tolerance to drought and heat through ethanol treatment, this technology aims to increase agricultural productivity in regions where growing conditions are challenging, supporting food security and sustainable farming.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Ethanol-based treatment that enhances drought, heat, and salt stress tolerance in plants
- Applicable to cassava and potentially other crops grown in stress-prone environments
- Uses ethanol, a low-cost and environmentally friendly compound, making it practical for widespread agricultural use
- Treatment methods under investigation include spray and infiltration, with optimization of concentration, treatment frequency, and plant age
- Underlying mechanisms studied through transcriptome analysis to understand how ethanol enhances stress tolerance at the molecular level
Technology readiness level
The technology has been validated in cassava under greenhouse conditions, demonstrating that ethanol treatment increases drought tolerance. The next stage involves field-based validation to confirm effectiveness under real-world growing conditions. Additional work will optimize treatment protocols and elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind the stress tolerance enhancement. The technology is at an early-to-mid development stage, with promising proof-of-concept results pending field validation.
About Riken Institute
RIKEN is Japan’s flagship national research institute—a large, multi‑campus organization with a nationwide footprint and a mandate spanning discovery to translation. Industry engages through open user facilities for photon science and high‑performance computing, co‑located joint labs, and collaboration hubs that streamline sponsored research. Its geographic reach across the Tokyo region, Kansai, and other sites places researchers next to major industrial clusters. Research is supported by core funding from MEXT and competitive national programs such as JST, AMED, and NEDO, plus international partnerships. A dedicated technology transfer office and corporate partnership arm support IP strategy, licensing, and venture creation.
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