Articles tagged with Plant Physiology
Plants integrate light from multiple directions to grow, with local sensing and nonlinear response mechanisms involved. The study reveals plants can experience optical illusions, with growth direction differing from the strongest light source.
Researchers discovered duplicated calcium pumps in Rhododendron species, allowing them to cope with high-calcium stress. The 'storage expression' model reveals how plants balance growth and stress responses in challenging environments, with implications for forestry and ecological restoration.
Research from Florida Atlantic University reveals that translucent windows in flower petals alter light and heat entry, changing internal temperature and influencing microbes. Warmer flowers generally harbor fewer microbes, and IR transmission increases floral temperature.
A collaborative research project between Aànãngu Traditional Owners and scientists has uncovered the physiological traits that helped some desert plant species survive a mass dieback event in Australia. The study found that drought-tolerant plants were more likely to dieback than those using drought-avoidance strategies, with maintenan...
New research reveals that faster growth rates in Honeycrisp apples increase the incidence and severity of bitter pit, a calcium-deficiency disorder that affects fruit quality and yield. The study suggests that disruptions to calcium transport through the xylem may be a major cause of bitter pit.
University of Michigan researchers discovered that oxalis, a weed commonly known as wood sorrel, produces more flowers after being exposed to low doses of the herbicide dicamba. The finding suggests that farmers and homeowners may inadvertently make weeds stronger by using herbicides on their fields or lawns.
Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered a plant cell receptor called SRF3 that restores iron balance and prevents immune overreaction to microbial invasion. This study provides crucial insights into plant resilience and could shape future agricultural efforts to feed a growing global population.
Researchers have found that duckweeds retain the basic building blocks of larger plants, but compress and fuse them together to create a compact plant. This compactness allows duckweeds to pack the same structures as larger plants into a tiny space, making them ideal for future crops.
Researchers found that Swiss forests are no longer shielded from the worst effects of summer droughts, despite growing at high altitudes. The study, published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, reveals that the number of trees per stand is reduced due to drought, causing a progressive decline of these precious forests.
When temperatures spike, coast redwoods slow their photosynthesis, chemical reaction that turns sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into carbon for growth. This reduces their ability to
Plant roots detect injury through tiny proteins, triggering electrical and calcium signals that activate defense mechanisms. Repeated bursts of calcium signals can make plant roots temporarily less sensitive to subsequent damage, coordinating how plants respond to repeated or nearby damage.
NTU Singapore scientists have developed a method to strengthen plant immunity by grouping immune receptors together, allowing plants to detect disease-causing microbes more effectively. The approach shows promise for potential crop applications in the future, including disease-resistant vegetable seeds and crops.
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.
Plant roots change anatomy to adapt to microbes, influencing root-microbiome interactions and nutrient uptake. Researchers identified mechanisms that enable roots to remodel themselves in response to bacterial colonization, paving the way for developing new agricultural strategies.
A type of milkweed, Heterostemma ficoides, mimics figs to deceive fig-pollinating wasps, while attracting flies that can complete their life cycle on the flowers. This unique combination of mutualism and deception allows the flower to thrive.
Scientists found that applying calcium under salt-stress conditions helps seeds maintain critical balance between sodium and potassium. A natural compound, sanguinarine, inhibits a key protein and boosts germination rates, but does not protect young plants after they've sprouted.
Researchers used satellite-observed chlorophyll fluorescence to detect subtle physiological changes in evergreen trees, revealing forest stress two years before bark beetle mortality appears. The technology could provide early warning for forest managers to prepare before mortality becomes widespread, helping to mitigate climate change...
Researchers at Tohoku University have identified a key molecule, AKT5, that promotes leaf stalk growth in plants. By understanding AKT5's function, scientists can develop efficient high-density cropping systems and boost agricultural productivity.
Plants use proprioception to control their posture and maintain a straight shape, utilizing tension wood as a muscle-like structure that can bend and straighten. This complex biological process is regulated at the cellular level and unfolds through several stages, governed by the plant's proprioception.
Specific plastid ion channels enable rapid calcium signal transmission to chloroplasts, strengthening plant defense response to recurring stress. Calcium waves relay information about attacks, triggering jasmonic acid synthesis and defense gene expression.
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.
A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that tomato plants can optimize water use during a specific 'golden hour' when sunlight is strong but heat and dry air are minimal. This discovery could give plant breeders a powerful tool to develop crops that can thrive in increasingly unpredictable climate conditions.
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 have identified a genetic mechanism that coordinates flower development and fruit formation in tomato plants, enabling them to produce fruit more reliably during challenging growing conditions. The discovery could lead to the development of seedless tomatoes with improved yield and quality.
Researchers at Tohoku University identified a new class of small molecules that improves drought tolerance in plants without causing unwanted side effects. The compounds, NS5806 and UA49, inhibit stomatal opening and enhance plant survivability during water scarcity.
A team of researchers successfully measured pollen dispersal from a genetically engineered switchgrass crop using ground samplers, drones, and simulations. They established a modeling methodology for future prediction, which can help improve strategies for managing pollen movement and forecasting airborne allergens.
A team of researchers from the University of Münster and RIKEN research institute has discovered a previously unknown mechanism for salt tolerance in plants. They found that a particular chemical mark in the 'histone code' plays a crucial role in adapting to salt stress.
Researchers discovered a new signaling pathway allowing plants to adjust protein production in minutes, not hours. Short sequence elements in messenger RNA act as molecular switches, enabling direct regulation of protein synthesis.
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.
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.
Plant cells respond to heat stress by activating protection programs that ensure survival. The 'solar powerhouses' of plant cells, called chloroplasts, form 'fingers' to send signals to the central control, triggering gene activation or inhibition.
Researchers found that giant trees in tropical forests have developed complex adaptations to compensate for the challenges of transporting water to their uppermost branches. These adjustments enable them to continue growing and thrive despite increased water stress.
Researchers found that ROS-producing enzymes coordinate cell proliferation, tissue integrity, and differentiation in plants. The study used a liverwort model to examine the role of RBOHs in plant development, revealing their importance in maintaining normal cell shape and tissue organization.
A new study identifies proteins potentially involved in the emergence of thylakoids, internal membranes where oxygen-producing photosynthesis takes place. The researchers compared hundreds of cyanobacterial genomes and found that these proteins may have played a crucial role in their formation.
Researchers developed a rice husk-derived biochar catalyst that degrades levofloxacin within four minutes under mild conditions. The catalyst works by activating peroxymonosulfate and inducing the formation of a surface intermediate, resulting in both radical and non-radical pathways for degradation.
A new study found that even as oak trees continue to photosynthesize late into the year, their growth stops by mid-summer. This decoupling between photosynthesis and growth suggests that increased carbon uptake may not translate to greater wood production, reducing long-term carbon storage in forests.
Researchers found that plant species with tougher leaves actually suffered more from insect damage, while those with higher silicon concentrations sustained less. In contrast, plants with higher heat tolerance experienced greater herbivory. Understanding these drivers is crucial for predicting forest health under future climate scenarios.
A UNIGE team studied the evolutionary history of plant mechanisms that protect against UV-B radiation in Marchantia polymorpha. They found that while the core mechanism is conserved, regulatory proteins play different roles in ancestral and modern plants, influencing their tolerance to light stress.
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.
A research team found that tropical forest plants increase root carbon exudation to stimulate phosphatase activity, mineralize organic P, and release organic acids to dissolve mineral-bound P. This adaptation helps alleviate P limitation under long-term N enrichment, sustaining productivity.
A natural extract from Pseudozyma aphidis fungus boosts production and improves quality of crops like tomatoes and melons. The approach provides a sustainable alternative to traditional agricultural inputs, supporting global food security without environmental harm.
A team of scientists has found a naturally occurring Voronoi pattern in the Chinese money plant, which helps explain how plants create complex patterns on their leaves. This discovery sheds light on how plants solve problems in nature and may provide new insights into the math underlying evolution and development.
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.
A novel study in Biological Diversity reveals the integrated physiological and symbiotic adaptation mechanism underlying P. purpuratum's ex situ conservation. The research demonstrates that ex situ conservation elevates seed-set rates but incurs trade-offs in photosynthetic capacity and oxidative stress.
A study by Griffith University found microplastics and nanoplastics reduced plant growth and entered plant tissues through soil, raising concerns about food safety. Fibre-shaped plastics had the most effects on plant growth, with nanoparticles transported within plants.
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.
Research in New Phytologist reveals that plants can obtain essential nutrients like phosphorus and iron from atmospheric dust settling on their leaves. In a Mediterranean field study, dust application increased plant macronutrient and micronutrient concentrations through mildly acidic leaves.
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.
Researchers develop hybrid photocatalyst system to overcome light-induced damage in molecular catalysts, significantly improving CO2-to-formate quantum yield from 6% to over 27%. The new design ensures selective excitation of semiconductors and prevents unwanted photochemical reactions.
Researchers have developed VertINGreen, a web-based platform that transforms vertical green walls into intelligent environmental systems using remote sensing technology and machine learning. This system enables precise planning and real-time monitoring of indoor plants, reducing maintenance costs and increasing the benefits of green wa...
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.
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.
A tiny clump of moss played a crucial role in proving a crime had taken place at Burr Oak Cemetery in Illinois. The moss's age was determined to be only a year or two old, bolstering the case against the cemetery employees, who were ultimately convicted in 2015.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Plant Science found that beneficial nematodes, including predatory nematodes, play a crucial role in regulating pest populations in tropical soils. The research shows that these natural allies can suppress harmful plant-parasitic nematodes, leading to improved crop yields and reduced losses.
Researchers have identified a master regulator in plants that balances root and shoot growth when nutrients are limited, leading to yield increases of up to 24% in rice plants. This breakthrough could ultimately improve global crop yields while reducing dependence on synthetic fertilisers.
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.
Svalbard's polar willow plant community, a critical food source for reindeer, was found to be resilient to icing due to consistent production above-ground during summer warming. The study suggests that even with extensive winter ice encasement, some plants can thrive through increased above-ground production and seed dispersal.