Articles tagged with Plant Genes
Researchers have discovered a new class of plant defense receptors that can limit blast pathogen attacks and introduce broader immunity into wheat, barley, and rice. By bioengineering these receptors, they aim to create a new frontline defense against the devastating fungal disease.
Scientists at NYU have identified a key regulator controlling nitrogen use in plants, which can be harnessed to develop 'gluttonous' plant varieties that absorb more nitrogen from the soil. This discovery could lead to reduced fertilizer application and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at UC Riverside identified a genetic marker that controls avocado tree flowering patterns, allowing breeders to determine flower type long before it blooms. This discovery could revolutionize avocado breeding by making decisions faster and more efficient, with potential benefits for high-quality fruit production.
A recent study found that wild snapdragons use subtle shades to attract bees, with four paintbrush genes working together to create a gradient of yellow. The strength of natural selection on each gene was estimated using a hybrid zone where two varieties meet, revealing the intricate mechanisms behind molecular gradients.
Researchers at the University of Michigan found that pollinators are driving plant adaptation in morning glories, leading to a steep decline in their ability to adapt to changing climate conditions. The study suggests that human activities such as pesticide use and habitat destruction have contributed to this decline.
A study by John Innes Centre researchers reveals that inner tissues play a crucial role in shaping plant organs, contradicting the widespread assumption that external layers control growth. By analyzing cell division orientation and gene editing techniques, they discovered genes affecting stem thickness in Arabidopsis.
Scientists have grown wheat containing super-sized starch granules, which could lead to healthier pasta and bread. The discovery has potential applications in various industries, including flour milling, paper making, and pharmaceuticals.
Research reveals bacteria rely on circadian clocks to organize colonies, controlling gene expression and pattern formation. The discovery has important implications for understanding bacterial ecology and improving plant growth.
A previously inactive moss gene plays a key role in their reproductive success, regulating the number of offspring and improving resource allocation. The study found that this gene acts as a brake, preventing too many sporophytes from developing, which is advantageous for parental resources.
A study combining citizen science data with experimental research found that switchgrass adapts its flowering time to optimize survival in different regions. The work highlights the potential of pairing public data sets with controlled experiments to uncover mechanisms of adaptation.
Healthy plants release chemical signals called VOCs that inform neighboring plants about competitive pressure, triggering adjustments in growth and defense strategies. Genetic analysis reveals shifts in biomass linked to changes in stress-response and cellular transport genes.
Researchers identify glycosyltransferase genes that influence stevia's sweet compounds, leading to cleaner taste profiles. Cell-type-specific gene activity may be the reason for limited accumulation of desirable sweet molecules.
Researchers have identified a novel genetic locus in the common agricultural weed Elymus repens that provides significant resistance to Fusarium Head Blight, a destructive fungal disease threatening global food security. The novel Fhb.Er-1StL locus has been successfully transferred into wheat, reducing diseased plant spikelets by up to...
Tomatoes have difficulty germinating under prolonged heat stress, but two mutant lines with the loss-of-function mutation in SlIAA9 showed little decline in germination and normal seedling development. The mutants exhibited elevated expression of antioxidant enzymes and heat shock proteins, leading to enhanced resilience to heat stress.
Researchers at John Innes Centre develop rapid seed germination protocol, reducing Ash dieback's impact. This new method has already produced over 2,000 seedlings for trials and research.
A recent study elucidated the molecular mechanism by which Fd1 and FNR1 enhance rice thermotolerant yield stability. The research found that overexpression of these genes stabilizes photosynthesis, reduces ROS accumulation, and protects pollen viability.
Researchers tracked genetic changes in Arabidopsis thaliana across 30 sites over five years, finding most populations adapted to local environmental conditions. However, some populations went extinct due to genetic drift, highlighting the importance of preserving biodiversity.
Salk Institute scientists created a high-resolution atlas showing how droughts affect plant cells. They identified a gene, Ferric Reduction Oxidase 6 (FRO6), that could be targeted to create more resilient crops. FRO6 expression in mesophyll cells partially maintained leaf growth under drought stress.
A new study has identified ~2.3 million conserved non-coding DNA sequences across 284 plant species, revealing deep principles of plant genome evolution. These ancient regulatory sequences can be maintained despite repeated genome duplications, opening the door to precise engineering of plant traits.
A new study has discovered over 2.3 million conserved non-coding sequences in plants, providing a comprehensive atlas of regulatory conservation across 284 species. These sequences date back to over 400 million years ago, shedding light on the evolution of plant genomes and gene families.
Researchers at FABI define a conserved subset of Phytophthora RxLR effectors with short linear motifs embedded within folded WY domain cores. This arrangement preserves domain integrity while enabling potential interactions with host immune components, reframing pathogen strategies and challenging SLiM dogma.
Researchers at Colorado State University have found a way to boost plant growth while maintaining its immune system through hormone treatment, showing promise for increasing food production. The approach involves genetically manipulating phytohormone interactions to restore cell division and increase disease resistance.
Researchers have discovered a genetic region controlling resistance to Fusarium wilt Sub Tropical Race 4 (STR4) in a wild banana subspecies called Calcutta 4. This finding holds promise for developing sustainable and disease-resistant commercial banana varieties.
A new strain of yellow rust pathogen has broken down a key resistance gene, leaving over 50% of the UK's wheat acreage vulnerable. Researchers are racing against time to find new resistance genes and breed them into modern wheat varieties.
Researchers found that the green-flowered Aeschynanthus acuminatus evolved on the mainland, not in Taiwan, and adapted to shorter-beaked birds. This contradicts the Grant-Stebbins model of plant evolution, which predicted the species would evolve in Taiwan with new pollinators.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory use CRISPR to edit the goldenberry plant, reducing its growth by 35% and making it suitable for denser farming. The team hopes to breed plants with desirable traits such as fruit size and disease resistance.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory developed an AI-powered approach to identify redundant genes in plants. By analyzing evolutionary data and machine learning models, they predicted which genes to edit to modify specific traits, providing a new 'roadmap' for plant breeders.
A new iron transporter protein, OsIET1, has been identified in rice, crucial for delivering iron to young leaves. The study reveals OsIET1 mediates inter-vascular Fe transfer, promoting optimal plant growth and productivity.
A study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers has identified a previously unknown gravitropism pathway in plants, which helps them orient their growth direction. This new pathway, controlled by the SLQ1 gene, works independently of the LAZY genes and may provide a backup mechanism for detecting gravity.
Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered a new mode of epigenetic targeting in plant cells, where specific DNA sequences guide DNA methylation patterns. This finding has major implications for understanding epigenetic regulation and could inform future strategies for epigenetic engineering.
A multidisciplinary team of researchers used genomic technology to decode the DNA of non-flowering seed plants, including gymnosperms, to identify genes involved in seed development. The study, published in Nature Communications, may aid scientists in improving crop production and conserving these ancient endangered seed plants.
A Chinese research team has identified a rare natural allele in wild soybeans that increases seed protein content and was lost during domestication. The found allele, PC08 Ins, boosts gene expression, raises ABA levels, and promotes storage protein accumulation.
Researchers have mapped the full genetic diversity of oat lines to understand their capacity for adaptation and resilience. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the pan-genome, including a directory of gene activity across different tissues and lines.
Scientists from Salk and UC San Diego have discovered a new hybrid seagrass that demonstrates low-light tolerance, offering a promising solution for coastal restoration efforts. The hybrid combines the shallow-water Zostera marina with its deeper-water cousin Zostera pacifica, inheriting the latter's low-light toolkit.
Researchers have identified genes with organ-preferential expression in sorghum stems, revealing distinct temporal functional signatures and potential candidates for genetic engineering applications. These findings offer valuable insights into improving sorghum stem biomass and composition for bioenergy and biopolymer production.
Researchers discovered that plants rapidly activate a coordinated immune response during drought recovery, prioritizing immunity over growth. This finding highlights the importance of studying the post-drought period and points to new strategies for engineering crops that can rebound more effectively after environmental stress.
Researchers create first genetic atlas to span entire Arabidopsis life cycle, capturing gene expression patterns of 400,000 cells in multiple developmental stages. The atlas provides comprehensive insights into plant biology, enabling future studies on different cell types and developmental stages.
A University of Missouri-led study has uncovered how poplar trees can naturally adjust a key part of their wood chemistry based on changes in their environment, supporting improved bioenergy production. The discovery sheds light on the role of lignin and its potential to create better biofuels and sustainable products.
Researchers developed a strategy to predict multiple traits at once based on the whole genome, increasing predictive ability by 2-10 times. This method, called multi-trait genomic selection (MT-GS), combines genetic markers with known trait links for more accurate predictions, making it a promising tool for efficient and cost-effective...
A team of researchers at the University of Toronto has identified a protein, Shikimate kinase-like 1 (SKL1), that enables land plants to convert light into energy through photosynthesis. This discovery holds promise for improved herbicides and increased efficiency of photosynthesis in food crops.
Researchers at Cranfield University are developing a faster and more efficient method for genetically engineering plants, bypassing tissue culture. The 'Fast-Track Crop Improvement' project aims to transform seeds and pollen directly, increasing the speed of crop improvement and opening up new possibilities for breeding and production.
Researchers have charted how plant metabolism responds to genetic changes that increase oil production, finding simultaneous increases in both oil and protein content. The study's findings will provide scientists with clues for optimizing biofuel production in plants such as camelina and pennycress.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered that cryptic mutations in tomato genes can increase or decrease the number of reproductive branches on plants. This finding has implications for agriculture and medicine, potentially leading to better crops and more effective medicines.
Researchers found that a single synonymous mutation in a gene drives cucumber elongation by altering RNA structure and function. This breakthrough has significant implications for crop breeding programs and may lead to the development of precision-crop improvement techniques.
A recent study has revealed that the diploidization process in plants can be both episodic and gradual, depending on the type of mutation. The researchers used population genomics to uncover a nuanced picture of this process, including gene fractionation, transposable element accumulation, and homoeologous expression bias.
Researchers created a comprehensive genetic resource for Australian chickpea varieties, uncovering previously uncharacterized genetic diversity. The pangenome analysis identified 34,345 gene families, including those associated with key agronomic traits like yield, flowering time, and disease resistance.
Researchers identified two novel genetic mechanisms governing disease resistance in wheat, involving pairs of nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat immune receptors. The discoveries offer new insights into plant immunity and provide crucial gene resources for breeding resistant wheat varieties.
Chinese researchers developed a groundbreaking 3D genome mapping technology that reveals how the 3D organization of plant genomes influences gene expression, especially in photosynthesis. The innovation provides a precise tool for understanding long-range chromatin interactions and their role in regulating biological processes.
Researchers created the most comprehensive genetic atlas of cannabis, revealing unprecedented diversity and untapped opportunity in this foundational agricultural species. The study sets the stage for transformative advances in cannabis-based agriculture, medicine, and industry.
A new study reveals that DNA methylation mediates the transgenerational inheritance of acquired cold tolerance in rice, supporting Lamarck's theory. Researchers developed a novel breeding strategy to develop stress-resilient crops, offering a promising avenue to tackle agricultural challenges posed by global climate change.
A Kobe University study finds that a gene regulating root development in vascular plants is also essential for organ development in liverworts, demonstrating the evolutionary dynamic of co-opting. The RLF protein, involved in this process, interacts with others to clarify plant organ development evolution.
A research team has pinpointed the genetic location behind thorns in blackberries, enabling plant breeders to accelerate the creation of thornless varieties. The study used genome-wide association studies and genotyping to identify a specific region of DNA associated with the prickly trait.
New York University researchers developed a novel process using machine learning to reveal groups of genes governing nitrogen use efficiency in plants like corn. The study aims to help farmers improve crop yields and minimize fertilizer costs.
Researchers have debuted the first comprehensive gene expression atlas of the plant periderm at the single-cell level, providing new insights into phellem cells and their role in carbon storage. The atlas could be used to stimulate growth of the protective periderm in plants facing environmental stress due to climate change.
A team from the University of Illinois has engineered a potato crop that can thrive in elevated temperatures, resulting in a 30% increase in tuber mass under heatwave conditions. This adaptation aims to improve food security for families dependent on potatoes, which are often affected by changing climate conditions.
A Dartmouth-led study reveals the fundamental genetic pathways and biological mechanisms behind the corpse flower's heat production and odorous chemicals. The researchers identify a new component of the corpse flower's odor, an organic chemical called putrescine, which is released when the plant blooms.
Researchers are developing soybeans that can handle extreme weather conditions, allowing farmers to maintain yields under pressure. By studying plant adaptation strategies, scientists aim to create more resilient soybean varieties.
A new study by Salk scientists reveals a key gene that enhances plants' zinc tolerance, allowing them to thrive in toxic conditions. The discovery enables the development of crops more resilient to soil contamination, a major goal of Salk's Harnessing Plants Initiative.
A new plant gene drive system, CRISPR-Assisted Inheritance (CAIN), has been developed to enhance trait inheritance in plants. The system uses a toxin-antidote mechanism to override Mendelian inheritance, allowing for the spread of beneficial genes at higher rates.
Researchers have identified 31 effector genes from the fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata, which causes devastating black rot in sweetpotatoes. This breakthrough provides a new approach to developing disease-resistant crops using effector-assisted breeding.