Convergent evolution of lignin synthesis in lycophytes reveals a novel pathway to engineer biomass composition. This discovery provides potential tools for improving digestibility and properties of biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol.
The American Society of Plant Biologists has launched 'Teaching Tools in Plant Biology' in The Plant Cell, a monthly online feature with regularly updated sets of teaching materials on important themes in plant biology. Peer-reviewed tools are designed for upper-level undergraduates but can also be adapted for introductory courses.
The American Society of Plant Biologists supports ChloroFilms' video contest, promoting plant life awareness through innovative videos. The first competition awarded grand and first prize winners for their creative and informative content.
The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) awarded 15 students with the 2009 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship to conduct meaningful research in plant biology. The fellowship recipients included Kevin Cooper, Ying Goh, Sharon Holifield, Emily Lin, Dianne Pater, Evan Pratt, and Shelley Sianta, among others.
The ASPB Education Foundation and NSF fund won first place in the Science magazine 2008 Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge with their interactive biology gaming module, Genomics Digital Lab (GDL). The GDL game proved its worth among a strong field of competitors and is now available for free educational use.
Researchers have discovered a key to cold tolerance in corn, allowing it to thrive in colder regions. By increasing PPDK enzyme production during cold weather, corn yields can be extended and growth seasons lengthened.
Researchers have identified a novel mechanism in plants that regulates circadian rhythms, which are integral to responses to light, temperature, and other environmental cues. The PRR gene family plays a crucial role in these mechanisms, with its members transcribed and translated at different times of day.
Researchers have identified approximately 2000 genes that contribute to the increased drought tolerance of two Andean potato clones. The study found up-regulated genes involved in osmotic adjustment, detoxification, and cell communication and signaling, as well as increased solute concentrations to induce water uptake from drying soils.
Researchers have identified two key loci responsible for extreme fruit size in tomatoes, including the fas locus that controls cell division and the locule-number locus that affects carpel number. This study provides a significant breakthrough in understanding tomato domestication and opens up new avenues for crop improvement.
Tobacco plants have evolved a self-incompatibility system to reject unwanted pollen and maintain genetic diversity. Researchers have identified a new factor, Stigma Expressed Protein (NaStEP), which plays a crucial role in the rejection mechanism.
Researchers have made significant progress in understanding the complex metabolic networks involved in tomato fruit development. By analyzing over 1200 quantitative metabolic loci (QMLs), scientists identified associations between metabolites and genes that regulate fruit metabolism. This knowledge can be used to alter metabolic pathwa...
The study reveals that three RAMOSA genes (RA1-3) control maize inflorescence branching, leading to changes in grain yield. The genes regulate the architecture of maize ears through a complex network, influencing plant development and adaptation.
A team of scientists has used paleobotanical evidence, genetic analysis, and microbotanical techniques to reconstruct the early history of maize agriculture. They suggest that maize may have been domesticated in Mexico around 10,000 years ago, based on findings from sediments at San Andrés, Tabasco.
Paramutations, a process where one copy of a gene can alter the expression of another, have been found in plants and may be important for introducing changes under environmental stress. Researchers studying paramutations in maize identified genes and mechanisms involved in this epigenetic process.
Scientists have unraveled plant architecture at the molecular level using genomic data, shedding light on flower and grain development in maize. They characterized key gene networks and biochemical pathways, providing insights into plant construction and evolutionary conservation.
Scientists are sequencing ancient maize landraces to recapture the full genetic diversity of this complex crop. The Palomero genome is about 22% smaller than B73, revealing a large pool of unexplored genetic diversity.
Researchers have identified a new molecular mechanism of starch breakdown in plants, involving the action of enzymes that place and remove phosphate groups on starch molecules. This process is finely tuned to diurnal changes in photosynthesis and circadian rhythms.
The study reveals that f and m type plant thioredoxins are not only localized to chloroplasts but also found in nonphotosynthetic tissues such as stems, leaves, roots, and flowers. These findings suggest new roles for these proteins in cell division, germination, and plant reproduction.
The ASPB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) recognizes 34 students from US universities who received $3,000 fellowships to support their research projects. The program is funded by the ASPB Executive Committee and Good Works funds, and co-chaired by SURF founders Mark Brodl and Jon Monroe.
The American Society of Plant Biologists awarded Fellow of ASPB, Adolph E. Gude, Jr., Award, Charles Albert Shull Award, Charles Reid Barnes Life Membership Award, Corresponding Membership Award, Excellence in Teaching Award, and Martin Gibbs Medal to distinguished researchers and educators in plant biology.
The team will develop a comprehensive set of hands-on learning activities aligned with the 12 Principles of Plant Biology. The project aims to engage middle school students in plant science education through inquiry-based learning and disseminate the materials to various settings.
Lemaux's group will use the grant to update and expand materials for safe, robust, and environmentally friendly foods. The team plans to create a hands-on activity, the GENE-ie Juice Bar, to demonstrate DNA and genes in daily life.
Dr. Elliot Meyerowitz has been awarded a grant from the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Foundation to develop a teacher-training program focused on plant science education public outreach. The program will use plants as model systems to address state biology standards in the Pasadena Unified School District.
The Virginia Tech plant scientists will develop and disseminate four interactive web-based flash animation modules to teach plant biology and genetics. The project aims to reach a wider audience of high school students, teachers, and plant scientists, promoting STEM education and research collaborations.
A new Illinois-based study has found that Miscanthus is more productive than switchgrass in terms of biomass production, with Miscanthus gaining 33% more carbon and having a greater leaf area. This research has implications for the development of sustainable bioenergy crops.
The study reveals that flowers' anthers play a crucial role in facilitating pollen collection by bees. The researchers found that the size, shape, placement, and timing of anthers can be controlled by genetic networks and non-coding sequences.
Scientists at the University of Cape Town have developed a genetically engineered (GE) maize variety that is resistant to maize streak virus (MSV), a destructive pathogen that can wipe out entire maize crops. The transgenic maize variety has proven consistently resistant and can be reliably passed on to future generations.
The sizes and positions of floral anthers facilitate pollen collection by buzz-pollinating bees, according to Dr. Endress's work. Slight genetic changes can affect flower morphology and pollinator compatibility, highlighting the importance of understanding these interactions.
Scientists identify rapid evolution of plant defense genes as a cause of hybrid incompatibility, leading to sterility and defective offspring. This phenomenon may contribute to the formation of new species through gradual genetic incompatibilities.
A successful bioeradication program in Lake Victoria reduced fish populations, improved hydroelectric power generation, and decreased malaria and schistosomiasis cases. The program used natural enemies of the invasive water hyacinth to control its spread, eliminating the need for pesticides.
Research by the University of Illinois found that elevated CO2 levels increase the susceptibility of soybeans to Japanese beetles and enhance their invasive abilities. This study highlights the potential risks of climate change on crop defenses, particularly for highly usable crops like soybeans.
Researchers have identified the FT protein as a key player in signaling flowering in squash plants, using an obligate short-day plant system. The study provides strong evidence that FT protein acts as a florigenic signal, and its presence in the phloem sap of flowering plants supports this conclusion.
Researchers have identified a specific class of small peptide elicitors that help plants react to insect attack, triggering defensive chemistry and improving protection against pests. The discovery opens the door for genetic manipulation of plants with improved defense mechanisms.
Two studies published in The Plant Cell reveal the role of NAC transcription factors NST1 and NST3 in regulating secondary wall thickening in woody tissues of Arabidopsis. These genes are found to be redundantly involved in promoting secondary wall formation, with one gene compensating for the loss of function of the other.
Research reveals two isoforms of glutamine synthetase determine major yield components in maize: kernel size and number. Nitrogen retranslocation dominates grain filling, improving nitrogen use efficiency and yields with reduced fertilizer inputs.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in understanding plant metal uptake, distribution, and regulation. The discovery of new IRT1 alleles enables plants to take up iron while resisting cadmium contamination. This could lead to increased crop yields, improved human nutrition, and reduced disease susceptibility.
Advances in plant science research are needed to reduce costs and multiply production of biofuels from plant cellulose. Somerville calls for increased efficiency of solar energy capture to transition the nation's transportation sector to use of domestically produced biofuels.
The exhibition showcases leading research projects supported by the National Science Foundation, covering topics such as water supply, ecological observation, and genomics of maize. The Coalition for National Science Funding aims to increase investment in NSF's programs to address scientific and economic challenges.
Researchers discovered that a novel role for reactive oxygen species in regulating the fungus-grass symbiotic relationship can help engineer resistance to crop pathogens. A single gene mutation in the E. festucae noxA gene triggered the switch, resulting in increased fungal growth and stunted plant growth.
Dr. Mark Estelle of Indiana University has been awarded the Kumho International Science Prize for his seminal contributions to understanding hormone signaling in plants. The award recognizes his pioneering work on the mechanism of action of auxin, a crucial regulator of plant growth and development.
Scientists have identified a key gene, ramosa2, that regulates inflorescence architecture in maize and other grasses. The ra2 gene's expression pattern is conserved across multiple species, suggesting its critical role in shaping the initial steps of inflorescence development.
Researchers identified 80 genes involved in flower development, shedding light on the regulation of floral organ identity and patterning. The gene trap technique provided a powerful tool for examining gene expression and function, revealing novel insights into floral development.
A new molecule Pep1 has been isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant species favored for experimentation, and found in various crop species. The Pep1 peptide regulates pathogen defense in plants, increasing their resistance to diseases and enhancing overall growth.
MicroRNAs play a crucial role in regulating plant development by controlling gene expression related to the auxin response pathway. Studies show that microRNA-mediated regulation of genes like ARF17 and NAC1 is essential for normal plant growth, affecting root and shoot development.
Researchers produced genetically modified linseed plants that accumulate significant levels of very long chain poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in seed, improving human nutrition. The production of these oils in plants may reduce unsustainable pressures on fisheries and provide a sustainable alternative for consumers.
Researchers have discovered a way to improve plant growth by increasing phosphorus uptake from the soil, reducing fertilizer needs and water pollution. The discovery, made by Dr. Maria Harrison, involves identifying genes that regulate the transfer of phosphorus into plants, with potential benefits for sustainable agriculture.
Researchers have discovered a two-member family of protein molecules, phototropin, that detects blue photons and guides seedling growth towards light. This finding has profound influences on seedling development and is being intensely studied by chemists and biophysicists.
A new breed of vaccine-producing plants is being developed to combat global health issues, including cholera and diarrhea. The innovative technology uses minimal processing to yield heat-stable vaccines for oral delivery.
Researchers discover small RNA molecules in plant phloem, suggesting a novel role in long-distance signaling and stress response. A new protein is identified as likely playing a key role in transporting these RNAs through the phloem.
Researchers have successfully expressed a variant of the maize anthranilate synthase (AS) gene in soybean seeds to increase tryptophan content. The modifications aim to improve the nutritional value of soybeans, but further testing is needed to confirm results.