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Researchers elucidate mechanism of auxin influx in plants

The study elucidates the molecular mechanism of AUX1/LAX protein family-mediated auxin transport, highlighting the role of His249 residues in substrate recognition. This breakthrough sheds light on plant growth and development processes.

Study shows how plant roots access deeper soils in search of water

Plant scientists have discovered how abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin influence root growth angles in cereal crops like rice and maize to seek deeper water reserves. This mechanism could lead to developing drought-resistant crops with improved root system architecture, addressing global food security concerns.

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Roots are capable of measuring heat on their own, new study shows

Plant roots detect temperature changes and adjust their growth accordingly. Researchers found that root cells produce more auxin in response to elevated temperatures, stimulating cell division and allowing roots to grow deeper into the soil. This discovery could help develop new approaches for plant breeding against climate change.

Motile sperm and frequent abortions in spreading earthmoss

A study by the University of Freiburg has found that auxin influences the fertility of spreading earthmoss, with PINC protein playing a crucial role. The research reveals that sperm swim better without PINC and that its absence leads to increased abortions in Physcomitrella moss.

Hormonal domino

A team of scientists from Nicolaus Copernicus University and international partners found that plant receptors have intracellular adenylate cyclase activity, which affects root growth and gravitropism. This discovery sheds light on the mechanism of transduction signals in plants.

USTC reveals the mechanism of auxin transport

A USTC research team has elucidated the high-resolution structures of the PIN1 protein and its interaction with auxin and inhibitor NPA, shedding light on the mechanism of auxin transport. The study provides a new method for studying auxin transport using mammalian HEK293F cells.

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Molecular feedback-loop for plant growth

A molecular feedback-loop regulates plant growth by balancing high auxin levels, which stimulates cell division and elongation. The discovery involves PILS proteins that transport auxin into the endoplasmic reticulum, modulating its effect on plant development.

What makes a plant grow towards light?

Researchers have identified a family of proteins called PIN-FORMED as essential for auxin transport, guiding plant growth and development. The discovery provides the first structural basis of auxin transport by PIN proteins and sheds light on how herbicides can be recognized by these proteins.

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First dicamba-resistant waterhemp reported in Illinois

Researchers have confirmed a Champaign County waterhemp population is resistant to dicamba, with a 65% control rate. The population shows signs of metabolic resistance, activating detoxification genes before the chemical can harm. This finding raises concerns about the potential for broader herbicide resistance.

Scientists solve 50-year-old mystery behind plant growth

A team of researchers from UC Riverside has discovered how a small molecule called auxin triggers the growth process in plants. By analyzing cell walls, they found that auxin lowers pH levels, causing cells to become acidic and soften, allowing them to expand and grow.

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Auxin visualized for the first time

The new biosensor, AuxSen, enables scientists to observe spatial and temporal redistribution dynamics of auxin in plants, revealing rapid uptake and slower export. It also shows rapid auxin redistribution after root tip rotation, a response not previously measurable.

New biosensor makes control hormone auxin visible in cells

Scientists have developed a novel sensor that makes auxin visible in living plants, providing new insights into plant development and growth. The sensor allows for real-time detection of changing environmental conditions and the influences of external stimuli.

How a plant regulates its growth

Researchers studied how the herbicide naptalam affects plant growth by inhibiting auxin transport proteins. Naptalam disrupts polarity in plants by blocking the directional flow of auxin, leading to inhibited root growth and altered flower and seed formation.

A plant's way to its favorite food

Researchers found that Arabidopsis seedlings adapted by increasing cell division and reducing cell elongation on ammonium, but reversed this balance on nitrate. The key hormone auxin regulated the balance between cell proliferation and cell expansion.

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Plants on aspirin

A new study published in Cell Reports found that painkillers such as Aspirin and Ibuprofen interfere with the auxin flow in plants, leading to abnormal root growth. The drugs also suppress the movement and trafficking of substances within plant cells, impairing their ability to develop properly.

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Molecular compass for cell orientation

Scientists at IST Austria identified a molecular compass that perceives auxin concentration and allows cells to synchronize their behavior for coordinated vein formation and regeneration. This phenomenon also applies to wound healing, enabling the growth of more mechanically resistant plants.

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Ammonium triggers formation of lateral roots

The study reveals that ammonium uptake by roots provokes pH changes that bring auxin into a protonated form, triggering lateral root emergence. This process allows plants to adapt to fluctuating nutrient availabilities and optimize nutrient acquisition in agricultural settings.

Study sheds new light on vein formation in plants

A study published in Nature Communications has found that plant hormones strigolactones reduce the transport of auxin, a key hormone involved in vein formation. This slowdown allows for more focused and efficient vein development, which can lead to improved crop yields and better adaptation to challenging climate conditions.

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Sticky proteins help plants know when -- and where -- to grow

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered a mechanism by which plants regulate the hormone auxin, affecting growth and development. The sticky properties of Aux/IAA repressor proteins allow them to bind to DNA-binding domains, controlling transcription.

Putting the brakes on lateral root development

New research from Washington University in St. Louis identifies a critical regulator of lateral root production, showing how auxin and cytokinin hormones interact to control root growth. The study reveals that the transporter TOB1 can limit auxin's root-promoting capabilities, promoting a slow but steady approach to root development.

How Capsella followed its lonely heart

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.

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Local hormone production is root of issue for plant development

The study reveals that local auxin production in plant roots is crucial for maintaining healthy roots and preventing degeneration. Auxin production must be made locally, as transported auxin cannot compensate for its absence in certain tissues, such as the root meristem.

Hijacking hormones for plant growth

Researchers have designed synthetic compounds similar to auxin, a hormone controlling plant growth, development and behavior. These compounds could be used for agricultural purposes, such as manipulating fruit ripening or preventing transgene spread.

Mother-child communication in plants

Researchers at the University of Freiburg discovered that mother plants use the auxin hormone to guide embryo development. This communication may help breeders create more resilient plants in response to environmental challenges.

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Plant mothers talk to their embryos via the hormone auxin

Researchers find that a plant hormone called auxin from the mother plays a crucial role in regulating early embryo development in plants. The study, published in Nature Plants, reveals that increased maternal auxin production is necessary for normal embryo development and that auxin from the mother is essential for correct embryo growth.

New mechanism for the plant hormone auxin discovered

Scientists have identified a new mechanism for the plant hormone auxin that enables rapid adaptation of root growth direction in response to gravity. This mechanism allows roots to quickly bend and grow deeper into the soil, where they can anchor themselves and find water and nutrients.

How plants work on the inside

Researchers at Technical University of Munich discovered a new regulator called PAX that helps cells determine their respective cell types in vascular tissue. The discovery sheds light on how plants develop new leaves, branches, and roots over weeks, months, and years.

The plant hormone auxin coordinates wood formation

Researchers found that auxin hormone controls stem cell division and WOX4 gene expression, essential for wood formation. The study revealed a direct regulation of WOX4 by auxin signaling factors, shedding light on the complex mechanism behind plant growth.

Communication via calcium wave

Scientists have identified a complex signal chain involving the auxin hormone and calcium channels in plant cells. Calcium waves are used to communicate local auxin signals over long distances, influencing root architecture and differentiation processes.

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Signaling pathways to the nucleus

The University of Freiburg team found that auxin-mimicking molecules accumulate primarily in the endoplasmic reticulum before entering the nucleus, regulating gene expression. This signaling pathway helps control various plant processes, including development and responses to environmental changes.

Lab-made hormone may reveal secret lives of plants

Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute have developed a synthetic version of the plant hormone auxin and an engineered receptor to recognize it, enabling precise control over plant growth and development. This breakthrough system, called

Auxin drives leaf flattening

Researchers discovered that auxin signaling defines the expression of genes WOX1 and PRS, which enable leaf blade expansion and flattening. This finding refines our understanding of auxin signaling in leaf development.

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A better dye job for roots -- in plants

A researcher at Salk Institute has discovered a fluorescent dye that reveals root growth is more influenced by auxin than thought, shedding light on the acidification theory and its role in plant growth. The study could inform faster-growing crop production or mitigate climate change effects.

Electronics to control plant growth

Scientists from Linköping University successfully applied an ion pump device to a small flowering plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, allowing them to control root growth and auxin response. This breakthrough enables localized application of hormones to study their impact on plant growth and development at tissue and cellular resolution.

ERC advanced grant for Jiri Friml

Jiri Friml, a plant biologist at IST Austria, has received an ERC advanced grant to investigate the evolution of auxin transport and polarity in plants. His research will focus on understanding how plants adapt to environmental changes through the dynamic regulation of PIN transporters.

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Single enzyme controls 2 plant hormones

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis isolated an enzyme GH3.5 that regulates the levels of two plant hormones, auxin and salicylic acid, simultaneously. The study reveals how this single enzyme controls distinct classes of hormones, providing new insights into the molecular pathways for growth and defense.

Picture release: Spiral growth

Researchers at EMBL discovered a molecular feedback loop that creates regular spacing between leaves, resulting in spiral patterns. This loop involves cells coordinating with neighbors to transport auxin hormone, which builds up and triggers the formation of new hotspots.

Researchers modify yeast to show how plants respond to a key hormone

Researchers have developed a novel toolkit based on modified yeast cells to tease out how plant genes and proteins respond to auxin, the most ubiquitous plant hormone. The system revealed the basic 'code' of auxin signaling, including how specific combinations of repressing or activating proteins can bind to auxin, DNA, and one another.

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Unlocking the mystery on how plant leaves grow their teeth

Researchers have discovered a key substance called EPFL2 that creates plant teeth and found out how they work. The peptide inhibits the accumulation of auxin at the skirts of tooth tips, preventing the generation of leaf teeth in plants that are unable to make EPFL2.

Ancient gene network helps plants adapt to their environments

A team of scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has discovered an ancient gene network that helps plants adapt to their environments. The tasiARF/ARF gene network, found in both mosses and flowering plants, plays a crucial role in regulating the response to environmental cues.

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