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Africa acacias ‘go for broke’ to grow, use up water to survive drought

November 7, 2025

Africa acacias ‘go for broke’ to grow, use up water to survive drought

Picture by Getty Images of Acacias tree in Africa.

Study is first genome-scale analysis of iconic umbrella acacia

Emily Caldwell

Ohio State News

Young umbrella acacia trees in Africa survive severe drought by putting their natural processes into overdrive when water is in short supply, prioritizing continued growth over water conservation, new research shows. 

The study is the first genome-scale analysis of any African acacias and focuses on the umbrella acacia, an iconic feature of the African savanna. 

Researchers compared the genetic response to drought stress of the umbrella acacia (Vachellia tortilis) and one of its hundreds of relatives, the splendid thorn acacia (Vachellia robusta) more commonly found in wetter regions of East Africa.   READ MORE.