Researchers at the Stowers Institute used AlphaFold2 and evolutionary data to predict protein structures in aphids, which were previously inaccessible to AI. The study reveals a common architectural plan among 2,400 BICYCLE proteins, showcasing the evolution's role in helping AI predict protein structures.
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.
The Salk Institute's $18 million Bezos Earth Fund grant will test whether deeper-rooted soybeans can store more carbon in soil and withstand drought and disease. The project aims to develop and test soybean plants with deeper, stronger roots using artificial intelligence, field trials, and soil carbon studies.
A new study reveals that mitochondria in dry plant seeds are fully functional and contain the necessary proteins for cellular respiration. This allows seeds to germinate rapidly within minutes of water uptake, using stored carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for energy.
New research contradicts past findings on plant recovery from drought, revealing that sunflowers cannot fully recover from drought. A study by Colorado State University found that gas bubble blockages in sunflowers' water-transporting tissues do not reverse after watering, despite appearing to recover remarkably well from drought.
Researchers at IIT Gandhinagar develop faster, more specific and sensitive staining method for visualizing xylem, enabling stronger research on plant development, vascular biology and crop resilience. The new probes achieve strong fluorescence signals at lower concentrations than conventional dyes.
Researchers have discovered that plant hormone auxin regulates organ formation by oppositely affecting gibberellin activity, creating a two-step communication system between the two hormones. This mechanism allows plants to carefully alternate between growth and expansion, enabling them to build complex organs with remarkable precision.
A recent study from the Indian Institute of Science found that self-fertilization is a key trait that helps plants become invasive. The researchers examined 28 species from the daisy family and found that all 11 invasive species could reproduce uniparentally, while most native and non-invasive alien species remained self-incompatible.
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.
Scientists at Durham University have discovered a previously unknown way that plants control the formation of wood, revealing a complex interaction between two receptor proteins on the surface of plant cells. This finding could change how scientists think about communication between plant cells.
Researchers have identified 18 distinct cell type clusters in the inflorescence meristem that generate a plant's above-ground organs. The study provides new insights into how stem cells make the transition from an undifferentiated state to specialized cell types.
Researchers studied plant responses to heat at the molecular level, finding PIF4 acts as a control switch for temperature-induced growth responses. The protein's ability to team up with other proteins could inform future efforts to develop heat-resistant crops.
UPL3 E3 ubiquitin ligase promotes light-induced seed germination by degrading PIF1. The study reveals a critical role for UPL3 in mediating PIF1 degradation through the 26S proteasome pathway.
Researchers discovered that plant stomata orientation is influenced by both cell shape and mechanical stress. In Arabidopsis thaliana, stomatal divisions tend to align with the long axis of the cell but can be altered by mechanical stress, particularly on the adaxial side where growth rates differ.
Researchers found that oak trees delay leaf emergence to escape herbivores, reducing insect damage by an impressive 55%. This delay allows the tree to avoid being stripped bare and enables it to recover from infestations.
A team at Osaka Metropolitan University discovered a new mechanism behind light-controlled plant growth. Light enhances adhesion between the epidermal and inner tissues in plant stems, allowing plants to strengthen their cell walls and regulate growth.
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.
A new study reveals that biochar nanoparticles directly enter plant tissues and enhance flowering by reshaping carbon allocation and regulating key genes. This discovery provides a new explanation for how biochar improves crop performance beyond its effects on soil fertility.
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.
Researchers discover a unique protein component, RbcS-STAR, that helps concentrate carbon dioxide around Rubisco, boosting photosynthetic efficiency. This breakthrough could lead to more sustainable food production by improving crop yields while reducing environmental impact.
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.
The new platform at ORNL's APPL facility combines robotics and AI to deliver in-depth insights for plant transformation. Massive datasets generated by the platform are analyzed using AI and ORNL's Frontier exascale supercomputer.
Researchers discovered that thermospermine, a small positively charged polyamine molecule, regulates vascular development by promoting the translation of SAC51 transcription factors while inhibiting LHW. This study sheds light on how plants fine-tune their vascular systems to produce soft edible storage organs or rigid woody tissue.
Researchers identify XTH5 candidate gene and brassinosteroid hormone's role in vine growth and movement. The study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms behind vines' ability to search for and attach to host plants, blocking sunlight and nutrients.
A new method called Distributed Cross-Channel Hierarchical Aggregation (D-CHAG) accelerates analysis of hyperspectral data, enabling faster AI-guided discoveries for high-performing crops. The approach reduces computational bottleneck and increases efficiency, making it possible to extract subtle patterns in plant physiology.
Plants have a cellular strategy to adapt to environmental changes, balancing growth and flowering responses through dynamic protein relationships. This adaptation allows for continuous flower production, increasing the chances of seed production in changing conditions.
A recent study published in New Phytologist reveals that trees don't record carbon from solar storms in the same way, affecting how scientists interpret past events. The research sheds light on how biological differences impact tree rings and provides a more accurate understanding of extreme space weather.
A recently identified tree species in Australia, Rhodamnia zombi, is facing extinction due to myrtle rust, a fungal disease that attacks and kills its young shoots. Researchers are working on finding clean cuttings and propagating them to grow resistant seedlings, which may hold the key to resurrecting the 'zombie' tree.
A new study reveals that maize roots can absorb CO2 from the soil atmosphere, contributing to plant biomass and challenging traditional views on carbon balances in croplands. The root system plays an active role in regulating carbon flows between soil, plants, and the atmosphere.
Researchers at Boyce Thompson Institute engineered compact goldenberry plants that are 35% shorter than their wild relatives, making them viable for commercial agriculture. These new plants have the same nutritional profile as commercially available goldenberries but can be grown at higher density and with reduced maintenance.
Researchers discovered that plants respond to compacted soil by thickening their roots and changing their structure, allowing them to penetrate harder. This mechanism is similar to basic engineering principles, such as a pipe's diameter and outer wall strength affecting its ability to resist buckling.
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.
This book provides an in-depth overview of 120 wild vegetable species from India's Western Ghats biodiversity region, covering their morphology, phytochemistry, traditional uses, and nutritional composition. It connects indigenous knowledge with modern plant science to promote the sustainable use of underutilized edible plants.
Researchers found that DNA mutations accumulate more frequently in stem cells producing plant skin compared to those producing eggs and sperm. This layered stem cell architecture allows plants to regulate mutation rates in different cells to optimize success and offspring stability.
Researchers found that plant roots can actively absorb CO₂ from the soil, with this process influenced by light, fertilizer, and atmospheric conditions. Root-based CO₂ absorption may be an alternative carbon nutrition pathway.
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has awarded two startups, APOLO Biotech from Argentina and Innovaciones Circulares from Costa Rica, with access to world-class infrastructure for research and development. The selected projects focus on sustainable solutions for crop losses and phosphorus fertilizer recovery.
The Jane Silverthorne Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides comprehensive support for groundbreaking research in plant science. The program aims to nurture innovative scientists and foster collaboration between disciplines.
Researchers explored post-transcriptional regulation in peanut pods, identifying 14,627 newly discovered transcripts and 6,769 new genes across four developmental stages. The study found dynamic changes in polyA length and its correlation with transcript stability, as well as alternative splicing events and RNA m6A modification.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered a unified model that explains how plants control their architecture by integrating local and systemic signals. This breakthrough could help scientists design new strategies to optimize crop yield, resilience, and resource use.
Lucia Strader's lab at Salk will explore how plants sense and integrate environmental cues to shape their growth and development. Her work aims to advance fundamental understanding of plant biology and design more resilient crop varieties.
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 at Salk Institute used CRISPR-Cas9 to delete large duplicated regions in Arabidopsis thaliana genomes, revealing minimal off-target effects. The study shows that it's possible to obtain viable plants with streamlined, minimal plant genomes, challenging assumptions about essential DNA blocks.
A new study found that global climate conditions affect the spore traits of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, influencing their survival, spread, and interaction with plants. The research provides insights into the environmental adaptations of microorganisms, which could guide soil restoration and food production.
Researchers at the University of Missouri discovered that soybeans employ differential transpiration as a natural defense strategy to cool reproductive tissues under extreme weather conditions. This adaptation allows plants to save significant amounts of water while protecting their flowers and seed pods.
A study proposes an innovative mapping of the world's vegetation potential, taking into account fire and herbivores. The researchers found that around 675 million hectares could support multiple vegetation states, depending on management.
Half of Brazil's high-potential areas for discovering new angiosperm species are located within protected indigenous lands. The study highlights the need for conservation priorities in these areas.
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.
Researchers developed a method to edit crop plant genes, discovering influence on taste and shape. The technique enables examining thousands of genes, overcoming challenges like genetic redundancy.
Researchers at Colorado State University have demonstrated the reversal of embolism in a type of wild grass, which can recover from extended drought within 24 hours. This finding has significant implications for improving agricultural productivity and food security, as it could potentially be bred into crops to make them more resilient...
A new nanoparticle smart spray developed by NUS researchers protects plants from harmful bacteria by delivering antibacterial compounds directly to the plant's stomata. Plants treated with the targeted particles are 20 times more resistant to infection than those given non-targeted treatments.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University found a mutant protein that helps plants fight mildew, but also accelerates leaf aging and yellowing. The discovery could contribute to crop yield improvement and sustainable agriculture.
The study discovered that closely related SCAR proteins have distinct functions in plant cells, with specific regions impacting protein stability. This knowledge could improve understanding of plant-microbe interactions and develop strategies for improved plant growth.
Researchers at the Danforth Center are developing perennial crops with deep roots to conserve nutrients and water, increasing yield and reducing input costs. The project aims to optimize breeding strategies and explore symbiotic relationships between corn and mycorrhizal fungi to improve soil health.
Researchers have discovered a way to enhance wheat plants' sugar signalling ability, increasing yields by up to 12%. The new technology uses a Trehalose 6-phosphate pre-signalling molecule to activate the pathway for starch synthesis, leading to increased photosynthesis and grain filling.
Researchers at Nara Institute of Science and Technology discovered five novel small molecules that can delay flowering in plants without heat treatment. These compounds, called devernalizers, reactivated the expression of a key gene suppressor of flowering, allowing for enhanced crop yield and resilience.
A research team from Göttingen University has compared algae and plants that span 600 million years of independent evolution, identifying a shared stress response network. This comprehensive dataset can be further explored for its physiological impact across plant diversity.
Researchers have developed ExPOSE, a method that allows for the visualization of plant cells with greater resolution, enabling studies on protein and RNA location, and cellular response. The technique uses protoplasts to overcome cell wall challenges, paving the way for a powerful new toolkit in plant biology.
A study found that bacterial cellulose patches induce plant tissue regeneration by triggering cytokine signaling. The mechanism involves the production of oxidative stress and activation of defense pathways, leading to wound closure.
Researchers found that a regulatory level change enabled C4 plants to photosynthesize more efficiently. By studying this shift, they believe it could be applied to make C3 crops like rice and wheat more resilient to climate change.
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.