A new study reveals European ash has moderately good resistance to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a beetle that has devastated ash species in the USA and some parts of Russia. The research found that European ash can restrict EAB development, while also exhibiting similar resistance to Manchurian ash.
A six-year study has uncovered the existence of a sensor in appressoria that tells the fungus when to rupture the rice leaf. This discovery provides a platform for developing fungicides against rice blast, one of the deadliest crop killers, and could also apply to other septin-mediated fungi.
A team of researchers has developed a method to generate sufficient quantities of Luteoviridae viruses, allowing them to study their structures in high resolution. The technique involves using plant expression technology to create virus-like particles, which can be observed by cryo-electron microscopy.
Researchers studied the cup-shaped traps of Utricularia gibba and found that differential rates and orientations of growth are involved in shaping. A polarity field comparable to that proposed for flat leaves was also detected, providing a unified explanation behind diverse leaf forms.
Researchers catalogued plant surveillance tools to detect disease-causing microbes across an entire species, providing a blueprint for disease surveillance. The findings have major implications for agriculture and plant evolution, highlighting the importance of genetic diversity in understanding a plant's immune system.
A team of researchers from the John Innes Centre and Stanford University has uncovered new genes that encode the high-value chemistry of limonoids. The discovery opens the door to metabolic engineering, allowing for large-scale production of limonoid pharmaceuticals and possible development of insect-resistant crops.
A joint study reveals that plants utilize their root-derived chemicals to shape and maintain diverse microbial communities. The findings provide a gateway to engineering plant root microbiota in major crops, potentially leading to improved productivity and sustainability.
UK rapeseed growers are facing significant losses due to temperature fluctuations during late November to December. The study found that even small changes in temperature during this period can lead to yield losses of up to £160 million, or 25% of the total value.
A new reference genome of Scutellaria baicalensis reveals the genes that produce valuable compounds, enabling the development of sustainable therapeutics. The discovery could lead to rapid access to a wide range of therapeutic drugs.
Researchers found that the gene INDEHISCENT plays a crucial role in shaping Capsella's distinctive heart-shaped fruits by upregulating auxin biosynthesis. This discovery may lead to improved crop yields and denser oilseed rape canopies through genetic modification.
Researchers have discovered that vernalization is influenced by both cold and warm conditions, with a wider temperature range than previously thought. The study found that warmer temperatures can trigger an 'extreme vernalization response', leading to unique gene expression patterns in certain wheat cultivars.
Researchers used time-lapse microscopy to reveal a key protein's role as a 'brake' controlling sporulation timing in Streptomyces. The study found that removing this brake leads to premature sporulation, highlighting the importance of BldC protein binding on the chromosome.
Researchers have developed a new method called AgRenSeq, which enables the rapid recruitment of disease resistance genes from wild plants and their transfer into domestic crops. This technique has been successfully trialed in a wild relative of wheat and holds promise for protecting multiple crops worldwide.
Researchers found an ancient mutation in citron that made it 1000 times less acidic, and discovered a key gene called Noemi controlling fruit acidity. This genetic marker provides insights into the domestication of modern citrus varieties.
Researchers use Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation to study heteromorphy in Primula vulgaris, a plant with a complex reproductive system that fascinated Charles Darwin. The transformation system allows scientists to delve deeper into the mysteries of heteromorphy and potentially lead to improvements in commercial crops.
Researchers at John Innes Centre discovered the two-step process by which catnip produces nepetalactone, a terpene that sends cats into ecstasy. This process may help recreate useful medicines, including vinblastine and vincristine, more efficiently.
A UK-wide consortium led by the John Innes Centre aims to enhance surveillance and response to Xylella fastidiosa, a devastating bacterial plant pathogen. The £4.85m BRIGIT programme will improve diagnosis and detection methods, identify potential factors for its spread, and prepare to minimize its impact on the UK.
Scientists at John Innes Centre and University of Queensland have improved space-inspired speed breeding technique to breed disease-resistant, climate-resilient crops. By using enhanced LED lighting and day-long regimes, they can grow six generations of wheat per year, compared to two generations using traditional breeding methods.
Researchers have discovered a central signal sorting hub in plants that fine tunes growth and immunity in line with key seasonal cues, revealing the existence of DET1 and COP1 proteins in plant defense.
The complete wheat genome is now sequenced, enabling researchers to identify genes controlling traits such as drought resistance and breed plants with higher nutritional quality. This breakthrough accelerates innovation in breeding resilient and disease-resistant crops to meet global demand for wheat.
A recent study has unveiled the intricate molecular mechanisms behind plant immunity, allowing researchers to unravel bespoke defence solutions against different variants of the rice blast pathogen. The findings have significant implications for engineering disease resistance against a range of crop pathogens.
A new study has identified the genetic networks behind a critical catalyst called a sarpagan bridge enzyme in Indian Snakeroot, a plant used for millennia in South and South East-Asia as a tranquilizer. The discovery could lead to faster routes to treatments for abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, and some mental disorders.
Plants use genetic memory systems to integrate seasonal signals and optimise key lifecycle stages, including flowering, seed dispersal, and dormancy. This study identifies the precise mechanism by which temperature information is passed from mother to seeds, enabling reproductive bet-hedging and diversity in offspring.
Researchers at the John Innes Centre have discovered a connection between microcin B17, a bacterial toxin, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Breakdown products from the toxin trigger gut inflammation characteristic of IBD. The study identifies a new source of environmental and microbial triggers of gastrointestinal inflammation.
A team of researchers has successfully mapped the genetic pathway of Madagascar periwinkle, a plant used to produce cancer-fighting compound vinblastine. The study enables rapid synthesis of vinblastine and its precursors using synthetic biology techniques.
Researchers discovered that mistletoe lacks a key enzyme essential for aerobic respiration in animals and plants, instead relying on alternative energy pathways. This adaptation allows mistletoe to thrive as a parasitic plant, but may also inform strategies to protect crops from damaging parasites.
Scientists have isolated a gene controlling the shape and size of wheat spikelets, which could lead to significant yield increases. The study, published in The Plant Cell, reveals that a genetic mechanism linked to another known 'Green Revolution' gene influences floral architecture in major cereals.
Researchers at John Innes Centre develop innovative LOCO-EFA technique to capture complex cell shapes, allowing for fair and biologically relevant comparisons. This breakthrough enables better phenotyping and understanding of cell shape dynamics, with applications in biology, paleontology, and more.
Researchers have discovered a cheap, safe, and effective method of dealing with harmful algal blooms using hydrogen peroxide. The treatment has shown promising results in controlling cyanobacteria, a major public health hazard, and could help prevent fish kills and closures of waterways.
A new study reveals that increasing temperature enhances 'pod shatter' in oilseed rape, a major issue for farmers worldwide. The research establishes a genetic link between temperature and the problem, bringing closer the prospect of creating crops better adapted to warmer temperatures.
A new study has reported the first case of stem rust in wheat in the UK in over 60 years, warning of a perfect storm of conditions favourable to its resurgence. The fungus is susceptible to over 80% of UK wheat varieties, and its spread could be exacerbated by climate change and Barberry planting.
The John Innes Centre announces the Janaki Ammal Scholarship Scheme to support postgraduate research applicants from eligible countries. The scholarships cover tuition fees for students studying plant and microbial sciences, aiming to reduce financial impact on international students.
Researchers used a plant virus to study how plants defend themselves against invading pathogens, revealing key receptor proteins that regulate RNA interference. The findings also identified a suppressor protein named C4 used by the virus to disarm the plant's defence mechanism.
The speed breeding platform enables rapid generation of wheat and other crops, increasing generations per year by threefold. This technology uses LED lights to create intensive growth regimes, reducing costs and heat, and has the potential to rank alongside the Green Revolution.
A recent study by the John Innes Centre team has discovered an undiscovered reprogramming mechanism in plant germ cells, allowing them to maintain fitness over multiple generations. This finding sheds light on the importance of DNA methylation reprogramming in plants and its potential applications for crop improvement.
Cristobal Uauy, a world-leading wheat scientist, has been awarded the prestigious Research Medal by The Royal Agricultural Society of England. His work in developing genomic techniques and sharing them with the international community has led to significant benefits for wheat breeders and researchers.
A new study reveals that specific barley varieties contribute to beer flavor beyond the malting process, with genetics and environment playing a significant role. The research found that breeding for malting quality does not necessarily result in brewing for flavor, providing insights for future barley breeding programs.
A study of snapdragons has yielded a clue about how nature controls fundamental evolutionary change in all species. A new genetic mechanism, known as a hairpin, has been identified that favours colour schemes which signpost a flower's entry point most clearly to pollinating bees.
A research team has discovered a technique called Accelerated Evolution that rapidly generates valuable natural products by mimicking bacterial evolution processes. This breakthrough could lead to hundreds of new compounds and revolutionize natural product drug discovery.
Researchers at John Innes Centre developed an advanced analysis method to study bacterial signalling, enabling a comprehensive 'signalling map' for the key protein Hfq. This approach integrates data from multiple experiments, increasing our capacity to understand plant and human diseases.
Research reveals that European ash tree populations have acquired genetic diversity from the invasive Hymenoscyphus fraxineus fungus, allowing natural selection to operate. However, new arrivals of more genetically diverse strains could be disastrous for the species.
New research models guard cells using 3D simulation, discovering three essential ingredients for effective gas exchange. The findings suggest that guard cells' elasticity, turgor pressure, and geometry are crucial for optimal performance.
A sophisticated mechanism allows plant roots to quickly respond to changes in soil conditions via the interactions of two antagonistic hormones, auxin and cytokinin. Cells sense relative changes in auxin levels to determine their location within the root and trigger a switch from cell division to elongation.
Scientists at the John Innes Centre have produced a new vaccine against poliovirus using virus-like particles grown in plants. The vaccine uses a method that employs virus-like particles (VLPs) - non-pathogenic mimics of poliovirus which are grown in plants.
Researchers at John Innes Centre discovered how and why 'anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions' form in plants, causing vibrant colors like purple, blue, and orange-red hues. These structures help guide pollinators to flowers or animals to fruits for seed dispersal.
A team of scientists at the John Innes Centre has created a fast-growing broccoli line with the potential to deliver two full crops a season, reducing reliance on seasonal weather conditions. The new line can be grown in protected conditions or in urban farms, enabling continuous production and supply of fresh local produce.
Plant tissues have a preferred direction of growth, essential for producing complex shapes. This characteristic is crucial for understanding how genes influence plant shape formation and could lead to better-adapted crop varieties.
A team of researchers has identified a novel regulatory mechanism that controls how plants defend themselves against pathogens. The study reveals how endogenous plant peptides regulate the formation of immune receptor complexes, leading to appropriate initiation of plant immune responses.
Researchers at John Innes Centre identify CrNPF2.9 as key transporter of strictosidine, a central intermediate in monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis; this discovery sheds light on the pathway of MIA compounds produced in the plant.
The £4.4 million BBSRC BRAVO project will support the training of young scientists and raise industry stakeholder awareness through workshops in Brassica genetics, genomics, phenotyping and modelling. This knowledge will help develop new, more resilient varieties of Brassica crops.