Abstract: The present disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells, or plant tissues wherein the plants, plant cells, or plant tissues comprise an exogenous nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a 30S ribosomal protein or a homolog thereof, wherein the 30S ribosomal protein or the homolog thereof is expressed in the plant, plant cell, or plant tissue. The current disclosure provides methods of improving drought tolerance and water loss in a plant, plant cell, or plant tissue, the methods comprising an exogenous nucleic acid sequence encoding a 30S ribosomal protein or a homolog thereof, wherein the 30S ribosomal protein or the homolog thereof is expressed in the plant, plant cell, or plant tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to genetically engineer plants by manipulating the expression of the Receptor-like Protein 33 (RLP33) to better suit and tolerate drought/water deficit environments. Also provided are genetically engineer plants that can be obtained by the methods according to the present disclosure.