One moringa tree species handles climate stress better than its cousin
Alshehhi OMS, Hayat F, Kandhan K, Al-Zayadneh W, Sheteiwy MS
Climate Adaptation
If you're growing moringa for its nutrient-dense leaves, knowing that Moringa oleifera outperforms Moringa peregrina under rising CO2 means you're already growing the more climate-resilient option.
Researchers put two types of moringa trees in special chambers and cranked up the CO2 and UV-B radiation to mimic future climate conditions. The common moringa tree (Moringa oleifera) grew taller and packed in more nutrients like nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium when CO2 was high, while its wild relative (Moringa peregrina) actually won out on minerals like potassium, zinc, and iron. Both trees struggled when exposed to extra UV-B light, growing shorter and losing green pigment.
Key Findings
Moringa oleifera grew taller than Moringa peregrina under elevated CO2 conditions
UV-B radiation reduced plant height and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids) in both species
Under elevated CO2, Moringa oleifera accumulated more nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, and boron, while Moringa peregrina had higher potassium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, and sulfur
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists tested two moringa tree species under high CO2 and UV-B radiation to see which could better handle future climate stress. Moringa oleifera, the more commonly cultivated species, grew taller and held onto more nutrients and chlorophyll under elevated CO2, while UV-B radiation hurt both species' growth and pigment levels.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Evaluating growth and physiological responses of Moringa peregrina and Moringa oleifera to elevated CO₂ and UV-B radiation in open-top chambers for climate resilience.
Climate change poses complex and unpredictable challenges to the ecosystems and agricultural systems. Anthropogenic activities have increased CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere and changes in ult...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
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Moringa oleifera is a short-lived, fast-growing, drought-resistant tree of the family Moringaceae, native to northern India and used extensively in South and Southeast Asia. Common names include moringa, drumstick tree, horseradish tree, ben tree, or malunggay.