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Sugar, the hidden thermostat in plants

New research reveals that plants rely on multiple heat-sensing systems and a sugar-based mechanism to detect temperature changes. Sugar produced in sunlight helps plants grow taller even when thermosensors like phytochrome B are less effective. This discovery could lead to breeding crops more resiliently under stress.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 1, 2025

Illuminating how plants adapt to light

A team of scientists led by Joanne Chory and Detlef Weigel studied the natural variation in light sensitivity across different Arabidopsis varieties. They found that strains from lower latitudes were less sensitive to light, and that specific genetic mutations affected the molecule's ability to transmit signals. The study sheds light o...

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateNov 29, 2001