Bioengineering plants that produce their own nitrogen fertilizer
Researchers at the University of Florida, USA, have discovered multiple genetic pathways in plants enabling them to produce their own nitrogen, potentially revolutionising crop improvement efforts.
How plants mate for life and repel other suitors
Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have developed a microscopic technique to observe plant reproduction, revealing key mechanisms that could enhance seed production and agricultural breeding practices.
Plants recorded responding to warning from neighbour
From Saitama University 24/01/24 Saitama, Japan: Plants emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere upon mechanical damages or insect attacks. Undamaged neighboring plants sense the released VOCs as danger cues to activate defense responses against upcoming threats (Figure 1). This phenomenon of airborne communication among plants through VOCs was first documented in 1983 and […]
Keys to aging hidden in the leaves
From University of California – Riverside 16/01/24 Scientists have known about a particular organelle in plant cells for over a century. However, UC Riverside scientists have only now discovered that organelle’s key role in aging. The researchers initially set out to understand more generally which parts of plant cells control plant responses to stress from […]
A delicious surprise: Vertically farmed greens taste as good as organic ones
From University of Copenhagen – Faculty of Science 09/12/23 Consumer skepticism about the taste of vertically farmed greens is widespread. But the first scientific taste test from the University of Copenhagen and Plant Food & Research, New Zealand shows that respondents rate greens grown vertically and without soil as just as good as organic ones. […]
Treat them green! Plant chloroplasts promise potential therapy for Huntington’s disease
From University of Cologne 06/10/23 Researchers at the University of Cologne’s CECAD Cluster of Excellence for Aging Research and the CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences have found a promising synthetic plant biology approach for the development of a therapy to treat human neurodegenerative diseases, especially Huntington’s disease. In their publication “In-planta expression of […]
How plants pass down genetic memories
From Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 29/08/23 When organisms pass their genes on to future generations, they include more than the code spelled out in DNA. Some also pass along chemical markers that instruct cells how to use that code. The passage of these markers to future generations is known as epigenetic inheritance. It’s particularly common […]
Blink and you’ll miss these plants shooting their seeds
From Duke University 24/08/23 If you happened upon a witch hazel plant in the forest, you might describe it as a sweet-smelling shrub with crinkly ribbon-like petals. But to Duke University graduate student Justin Jorge, it’s a howitzer. That’s because of the impressive firepower of its fruits. When witch hazels are ready to disperse their […]