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Hidden genome variation steers growth in Gastrodia elata

A genome-level study reveals how genetic differences affect growth, tuber form, and carbohydrate allocation in Gastrodia elata. The research identifies a key signaling complex involved in regulating tuber development and carbohydrate allocation among cultivated forms.

SourceNanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science·JournalHorticulture Research·DateAug 4, 2026

Roots steer clear of plant rot

Researchers have discovered a new root response called saprotropism that guides plants away from decaying plant-derived matter. This adaptation enables roots to avoid hostile zones in soil and promotes healthy growth.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 9, 2026
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Plants walk a fine line between growth and defense

Researchers discovered that plants use a surprising multi-layered system to regulate salicylic acid levels and keep their immune system in check. This system involves enzymes that break down the hormone, which are then flagged for elimination, limiting how much salicylic acid they can destroy.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 4, 2026

Identification of a key gene that enables tomato seed germination under high-temperature conditions

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.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalPlant Physiology and Biochemistry·DateApr 28, 2026

How do plant roots grow in unpredictable temperatures?

Researchers found that auxin's partner proteins serve as internal plant 'thermostats' that directly sense temperature and change genetic programs to direct root growth accordingly. This discovery could lead to engineering plants that withstand extreme temperatures, protecting crop productivity under challenging conditions.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 8, 2026
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

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Plant hormone therapy could improve global food security

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.

SourceColorado State University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 23, 2026

'Benzoylation flip' turns kenaf yellowing into whitening, opens new route to weather-proof bio-fibers

Researchers achieved hydroxyl groups esterification and lignin dissolution through a two-hour pyridine-benzoyl chloride bath. The resulting fibers became photobleaching and stable under accelerated weathering, with a 15-unit ΔE* swing and 96% plunge in tensile strength.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 26, 2025

Smart hormone technologies could help sugarcane survive droughts and floods

A new review highlights how exogenous phytohormones can strengthen sugarcane's ability to cope with both drought and waterlogging. Emerging technologies like robotic systems and nanotechnology are being developed to deliver hormones precisely when and where they are needed.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 23, 2025

New biosensor tracks plants’ immune hormone in real time

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a pioneering biosensor that can detect and track salicylic acid dynamics in living plants. The SalicS1 tool provides fresh insights into how plants coordinate local and systemic defenses against pathogens, with potential applications for improving crop resilience and understandin...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 9, 2025

From bud to branch: How buds communicate to shape plant architecture

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.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 19, 2025
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New insights into plant growth

A recent study revealed that brassinosteroids are distributed unevenly between new cells formed during cell division, influencing root growth and development. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of how these hormones regulate plant growth and development at the cellular level.

SourceVlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 10, 2025

Soil’s secret language: Researchers decode plant-to-fungi communication

Plant roots use a silent molecular 'language' to direct fungi to attach, providing phosphates. Researchers discovered that strigolactone activates fungal genes associated with phosphate metabolism, leading to new strategies for cultivating hardier crops and combatting disease-causing fungi.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalMolecular Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 17, 2024

Discovered how to obtain aubergines or roses without prickles

An international team of researchers has identified the LOG gene responsible for forming prickles in several plant species. The discovery enables the development of new prickle-free varieties of crops like aubergines and blackberries, as well as ornamental plants such as roses.

SourceUniversitat Politècnica de València·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2024
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

New discoveries regarding tomato hormones can increase total yield

Researchers discovered that strigolactones, previously only associated with plant development, directly influence flowering and fruiting in tomatoes. By regulating the microRNA319 pathway and gibberellin levels, strigolactones promote faster and better flowering, leading to increased yields.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 31, 2024

Advanced biosensor uncovers role of gibberellin in integrating light signaling and stem growth in plants

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that gibberellin hormone plays a crucial role in integrating light signaling and stem growth in plants. Using advanced biosensors, they found that gibberellin levels are higher in longer cells and that a specific enzyme called GA20ox1 produces a gradient that controls cell elon...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalThe Plant Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 26, 2024

Next generation biosensor reveals gibberellin’s critical role in legume nitrogen-fixation – paving the way for more productive legume crops and self-fertilizing cereals

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that the plant hormone gibberellin is essential for legume nitrogen-fixing root nodule formation and maturation. The study used a highly sensitive next-generation biosensor to visualize GA accumulation in specific zones of the root, revealing its critical role in nodulation.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalThe Plant Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 23, 2024
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Researchers decipher mysterious growth habit of weeping peach trees

A new study published in Plant Physiology reveals the mysterious growth habit of weeping peach trees by identifying a protein called WEEP. The study shows how the protein establishes asymmetric auxin gradients, leading to shoots growing downwards like roots.

SourceAmerican Society of Plant Biologists·JournalPLANT PHYSIOLOGY·DateFeb 28, 2024

Chemicals from maize roots influence wheat yield

Researchers from the University of Bern found that maize roots secrete chemicals that improve soil quality and increase wheat yields. The study demonstrates potential for using specialized plant compounds to enhance crop productivity through variety-specific rotations.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 11, 2023

Modifying shelf-life of melons via gene editing

Researchers successfully modified the ethylene synthesis pathway in the Japanese luxury melon to increase its shelf-life. The study found that introducing a mutation into the CmACO1 gene reduced ethylene generation, resulting in firmer fruit and longer shelf life.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalFrontiers in Genome Editing·DateJul 26, 2023
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Plant hormones to help prevent Striga invasion

Researchers discover chemical inhibitor TIS108 significantly lowers Striga infestation without affecting plant growth or grain yield. The study shows canonical strigolactones contribute to seed germination in root parasitic weeds and play a major role in stimulating invasion by Striga.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 2, 2022

New insights into effects of membrane proteins on plant growth

Researchers at Hokkaido University identified two deubiquitinating enzymes, UBP12 and UBP13, that stabilize the brassinosteroid receptor BRI1 in plant cells. This finding reveals a crucial role for these enzymes in regulating plant growth and development.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalEMBO Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2022
GoPro HERO13 Black

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Unlocked enzyme structure shows how strigolactone hormone controls plant growth

Researchers unlocked the structure of an enzyme that regulates plant growth in response to strigolactone hormone. The enzyme, MAX2, targets repressor proteins for destruction when it's unlocked, allowing genes to be expressed and activating various growth processes. This discovery sheds light on how plants adapt to their environment.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNature Plants·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 28, 2022

Researchers reveal catabolic regulation of plant hormone strigolactones

The study reveals that Arabidopsis carboxylesterase 15 (AtCXE15) and its orthologues efficiently hydrolyze plant hormone strigolactones (SLs), regulating shoot branching and plant architecture. This discovery provides a rational approach to manipulating endogenous SLs for crop improvement.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Plants·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2021

Yeast and bacteria together biosynthesize plant hormones for weed control

Scientists have developed a method to produce strigolactones, a group of plant hormones that prevent excessive budding and branching. By combining yeast and bacteria, researchers can synthesize these hormones from microbes, providing a promising alternative to traditional methods.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 17, 2021
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Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

SMART researchers design novel sensors to detect plant hormones

Researchers from SMART and collaborators have developed the first nanosensor to detect synthetic auxin plant hormones, transforming the screening process. The sensors enable real-time monitoring of plants' response to compounds like herbicides without causing damage.

SourceSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)·JournalACS Sensors·DateSep 2, 2021

UMD discovers a new role for a well-known molecule as a plant hormone

Researchers at UMD have identified a critical role for the molecule ACC in plant reproduction and pollination, activating proteins similar to those involved in nervous system responses in humans and animals. This finding could rewrite textbooks and lead to new research on improving plant health and crop yield.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 14, 2020

Caterpillar attacks allow aphids to sneak up on plants

A study found that plants prioritize flower protection over leaf defense and increase hormone concentrations in flowers to deter attackers. Dual attacks by caterpillars and bacteria leave plants more vulnerable to aphid attacks.

SourceWiley·JournalNew Phytologist·DateDec 6, 2017
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Breakthrough: Microbes protect plants with plant hormones

Researchers have identified a novel mechanism by which beneficial microbes produce plant hormones to control plant diseases. The study found that bacteria can efficiently control pathogen infections in model plants by producing cytokinin, allowing the plants to maintain tissue integrity and biomass yield.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 17, 2016

Plant growth requires teamwork between 2 hormones

Researchers at Technical University of Munich discovered that brassinosteroids are necessary for the production of gibberellins, a hormone that regulates cell elongation and division in plants. This finding has important implications for crop breeding and plant growth.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateAug 17, 2015

Ethylene of no effect -- why peppers do not mature after picking

Scientists investigated why ethylene causes tomatoes to mature after picking but not peppers. They found that genes involved in breaking down the cell wall and carotenoid biosynthesis were produced in greater quantities in both tomatoes and peppers, suggesting a different ripening mechanism for non-climacteric fruits like peppers.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPLANT PHYSIOLOGY·DateAug 3, 2012
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Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Getting plants to rid themselves of pesticide residues

Scientists in China have discovered that a natural plant hormone can help plants eliminate residues of certain pesticides, including chloropyrifos. The substance significantly reduces toxicity and residues in the plants, making it a promising, environmentally friendly solution.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateSep 30, 2009

Conflict between plant and animal hormones in the insect gut?

Researchers found that a specific glutathione S-transferase in the insect gut converts plant hormone cis-OPDA into iso-OPDA, which is then used by caterpillars to survive on host plants. This adaptation allows generalist caterpillars to thrive on diverse plant species.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 14, 2009

Getting plants to rid themselves of pesticide residues

Researchers found that applying a natural plant hormone can help eliminate pesticide residues from crops, reducing environmental exposure to pesticides. The study suggests using brassinosteroids as an environmentally friendly alternative to minimize pesticide risks.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateSep 9, 2009

Thale cress goes on the defensive

Researchers found that thale cress responds differently to various plant pests and microorganisms, with specific hormone compositions leading to unique gene expressions.

SourceNetherlands Organization for Scientific Research·DateMay 14, 2007
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Kiss mistletoe goodbye this season for better tree health

Researchers at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station have discovered a promising new treatment for eliminating mistletoe from urban trees. The plant hormone has shown to be effective in controlling up to 90% of mistletoe infestations, with potential applications for widespread use across the United States.

SourceTexas A&M AgriLife Communications·DateDec 13, 2002