Plant BiologybioRxivPreprint
Domestication reduces drought tolerance in watermelon through loss of root plasticity traits
Or Emma Shemer, Zvi Menachem Bloom, Shira Gal…·Amnon Cochavi
This study compares drought tolerance traits in wild and domesticated watermelon, finding that domestication reduces root plasticity, limiting water acquisition from deeper soil layers.
DOI 10.64898/2026.02.11.705227