A plant biologist studies root growth in drought conditions. A plant’s root elongates at 0.4 mm/day under normal conditions, but only 0.15 mm/day under drought. If drought lasts 60 days and normal conditions return afterward for 40 days, what is the total root growth?

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:05:58 +0000

Understanding Root Growth in Drought Conditions: A Plant Biologist’s Insight In the face of environmental stress, plants reveal remarkable adaptability—especially in root development. A recent study by a plant biologist sheds light on how roots respond to water scarcity, a critical factor for agriculture and ecosystem resilience. By analyzing root elongation rates, researchers uncover how drought impacts plant survival and growth dynamics. Under normal conditions, a plant root grows at a steady pace of 0.4 mm per day. However, during drought, this rate dramatically slows to just 0.15 mm per day. This significant reduction highlights the physiological stress drought imposes on root systems, which are essential for water and nutrient uptake. Consider a scenario studied by the plant biologist: a 60-day drought period followed by 40 days of normal rainfall. Using basic arithmetic, we calculate total root growth across both phases.