LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher has discovered a way to help crops grow in stressful conditions.

The findings by university plant scientist Sally Mackenzie could improve the yields of farmers in Africa and other developing countries. The research is paid for with a nearly $3 million grant by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Mackenzie discovered a way to produce plants with strong growth, even in a harsh environment. In a variety of crops, the genetic enhancements translated into yields that were up to 35 percent higher than usual.

The traits that strengthened those plants remained stable in subsequent generations.