Sydney, July 8 - Scientists have developed salt-tolerant plants using a new type of genetic modification (GM). The results could impact food production and security, since salinity affects agriculture worldwide.

The work has been the outcome of research by the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics and the University of Adelaide and Cambridge University.

'Salinity affects the growth of plants worldwide, particularly in irrigated land where one third of the world's food is produced. And it is a problem that is only going to get worse' said team leader Mark Tester, professor at the University of Adelaide.

'Helping plants to withstand this salty onslaught will have a significant impact on world food production,' he added.

Tester says his team used the technique to keep salt out of the leaves of a model plant species.