Drug Discovery for Thirsty Crops.

Following virtual screening and structure-based ligand optimization, researchers have developed opabactin (OP), an abscisic acid (ABA)-receptor agonist with tenfold greater in vivo activity than ABA. This new ligand surpasses previous agonists for its potency and bioactivity on staple crops. OP leads a new class of agrochemicals designed to protect crops from drought.