Articles tagged with Plant Physiology
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 developed a non-invasive OCT scanner to measure environmental stress in plants. The device reveals internal structural changes caused by ozone exposure, enabling early detection of deficiencies or stress-induced changes.
A new study demonstrates strong performance in predicting daily crop transpiration using machine-learning models and high-resolution lysimeter data. Machine learning can reliably predict daily transpiration from environmental conditions and plant characteristics, highlighting an important conceptual step toward plant-driven prediction ...
Researchers found that myosin XI-1 modulates salt tolerance, leading to lower Na⁺ accumulation and higher chlorophyll levels. The study suggests functional diversification among myosin XI members, offering a new strategy for improving crop resilience to salinity.
Researchers have identified a specific pollen signal from the cabbage family that governs species recognition, allowing plants to recognize which pollen grains are compatible and reject others. This breakthrough could pave the way for new crop species with improved traits.
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.
Butterworts have evolved CAM photosynthesis, a pathway similar to that of cacti and succulents, allowing them to thrive in dry habitats. This adaptation enables the plants to conserve water and produce sticky mucilage for trapping prey.
Scientists have created a micro-algal platform that allows for automated and fast testing of chloroplast genetic modifications, opening up plant chloroplasts to high-throughput applications. This platform enables researchers to fine-tune genetic circuits and identify which modifications have real potential.
Australian researchers have developed tiny compartments to help supercharge photosynthesis, enabling plants to fix carbon more efficiently. The team engineered encapsulins that can house the enzyme Rubisco in a confined space, allowing for fine-tuning of compatibility for future use in crops.
Researchers have discovered that extended periods of high stress in wheat crops can lead to iron deficiency and stunted growth. By reducing iron deficiency with a synthetic organic molecule called PDMA, plants are able to improve photosynthesis and biomass under heat stress conditions.
Researchers studied the genetic response of umbrella acacia and splendid thorn acacia to drought stress. The study found that umbrella acacias prioritize continued growth over water conservation when water is scarce, using up all accessible water to survive severe droughts. In contrast, splendid thorn acacias invest in water conservati...
A University of Utah geologist used earthquake-monitoring tools to analyze how towering saguaro cacti respond to wind and ground motion without harm. The study found that saguaros' resonance frequencies vary widely across their height, with stiffness near the bottom and flexibility at the top.
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 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 at Saitama University have revealed that DmMSL10, an ion channel, acts as the Venus flytrap's primary touch sensor. This discovery showcases how plants can sensitively detect gentle stimuli, leading to efficient prey capture and trap closure.
David Stern, a Senior Group Leader at Janelia Research Campus, joins Stowers Institute to uncover new avenues of biology with enormous implications. His lab discovered 'bicycle proteins' that trick plants into growing protective homes for aphids, shedding light on the battle between plants and insects.
Researchers found that bean plants and other species evolved a predisposition for the symbiosis at least three times, supporting a long-standing theory. This biological trick allows plants to access atmospheric nitrogen, boosting crop yields.
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.
A new study reveals how Moso bamboo degrades under fluctuating hygrothermal conditions, causing dramatic fluctuations in mass, dimensions, and appearance. Machine learning was integrated to predict changes in compressive strength and color difference with high accuracy.
Researchers at RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science identified ancient protein SCORE to help plants defend against various pathogens. By engineering synthetic SCORE variants, plants can be made resistant to multiple pathogen types.
The study found that DLDG1 regulates NPQ by controlling proton conductivity within the thylakoid membrane through CFo-CF1 ATP synthase activity. The dldg1hope2 double mutant showed faster NPQ induction than the hope2 mutant, indicating a complex relationship between DLDG1 and NPQ regulation.
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.
A new study reveals that drought and ozone pollution significantly reduce soybean yield, regardless of drought stress levels. Researchers found that elevated ozone concentrations disrupt photosynthesis and hormone signaling in plants, leading to reduced yield and seed development.
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.
The new CABI-published book Planet Fungi: A Photographer's Foray is a unique exploration of fungal biology and ecological significance, featuring hundreds of beautiful images captured in sharp focus. The book aims to educate and inspire researchers and amateur mycologists alike, shedding light on the intricate world of fungi.
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 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 novel, needle-type biosensor allows for real-time monitoring of sucrose uptake in plants, revealing light-dependent stomatal uptake and daily rhythms. The sensor's high sensitivity and stability enable the detection of subtle physiological events, shedding new light on plant biology.
Researchers discovered that oak trees adjust their root systems to access more soil nutrients under elevated CO2, employing both 'do it yourself' and 'outsourcing' strategies. This adaptation enables the trees to optimize growth and maintain nutrient supplies.
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.
The Moon-Rice project is developing a super-dwarf rice variety that can thrive in microgravity and produce high yields, addressing nutritional deficiencies in space. Researchers are also exploring ways to enrich the protein content of the crop to support astronaut health.
Scientists at the University of Helsinki discovered that gas leakage through a wound triggers plant regeneration, using ethylene and oxygen as signals. This finding has implications for improving crop resilience, reducing post-harvest food waste, and enhancing agricultural sustainability.
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.
New research reveals evolutionary reversal in island plants where wild-growing tomatoes on western islands produce alkaloids similar to those found in eggplants. The study suggests that environmental conditions may be driving the reversal, and this phenomenon could have implications for human evolution and nature's ability to adapt.
Researchers developed a model to detect early signs of marsh decline using satellite observations, identifying vulnerable areas along Georgia's coast. The study found belowground biomass has declined across 72% of Georgia's coastal marsh since 2014.
A new study reveals how nanoparticles can interfere with photosynthesis in plants, reducing their ability to convert sunlight into food. The research team found that nanoparticles undergo changes in pH and pick up lipid coatings from plant membranes, boosting their binding to RuBisCO and impairing its function.
A new study by University of British Columbia researchers suggests the summer solstice is an optimal day for plant growth and reproduction. However, in a changing climate, relying on this fixed signal may no longer help plants to survive or thrive.
Research reveals myosin XI's essential role in guiding AtNIP5;1 to its correct location on the cell membrane, enabling active boron absorption. Plants lacking myosin XI exhibit severe growth defects and reduced boron levels, highlighting the protein's critical function.
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...
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.
A new study reveals that plants prioritize water over gravity during drought conditions, suppressing gravitropism to become more hydrotropic. MIZ1 protein helps attenuate root gravitropism, enabling plants to search for water effectively.
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.
A study published in Science Advances has revealed promising alternative pathways to overcome photorespiration, which can reduce crop productivity by up to 36%. The researchers identified mechanisms that could improve plant productivity while adapting to climate change and growing global food demands.
The study provides a comprehensive genetic map of the pistachio genome, allowing for the creation of better-nutrition varieties. The research also identifies four key stages of nut growth from flower to harvest, providing insights into shell hardening and kernel growth.
The American Society of Plant Biologists is searching for a new Editor-in-Chief to drive the editorial direction of Plant Physiology. The successful candidate will have a vision for the journal's future and be responsible for elevating its profile within the community.
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 new species of manzanita has been discovered on the central coast of California, but its survival is already at risk due to urban development. The species, Arctostaphylos nipumu, lacks a protective burl that allows some other manzanitas to resprout after wildfires.
A recent study from the University of Guam found that cycad cotyledons contribute to successful seedling growth through photosynthesis. The research reveals a robust cotyledon strategy for improving seedling persistence and biodiversity in competitive forest communities.
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.
Researchers at Salk Institute discovered plant cells enter an immune state to fight pathogens, using Primary IMmunE Responder (PRIMER) cells as hubs for the immune response. These cells are surrounded by bystander cells that enable long-distance cell-to-cell communication.
Research found that plants adapted to colder temperatures have a higher rate of photoinhibition repair when exposed to cold conditions. This adaptation allows them to survive in colder regions. The study used Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes from around the world to demonstrate this phenomenon.
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.
Two populations of the same wild species, Brassica fruticulosa, have evolved differently under similar environmental conditions, revealing distinct adaptation strategies to soil salinity. The study identifies two adaptive responses, one involving sodium restriction and the other through efficient osmotic adjustment mechanisms.
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.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge found that flowers like hibiscus use an invisible blueprint to dictate the size of their bullseyes, which can significantly impact their ability to attract pollinating bees. Larger bullseyes are preferred by bees and can potentially boost efficiency for both bees and blossoms.
The study reveals that light-sensitive channels can be used to target specific ion signals in plants, allowing for the comparison of different signaling pathways. This breakthrough enables researchers to investigate plant stress responses in greater detail.
The IBMCP team has identified a new volatile compound, alpha-terpineol, that effectively protects plants from Pseudomonas syringae, a pathogenic bacterium causing severe crop damage. This natural strategy could serve as a protective barrier against bacteria and even protect plants from drought.
Researchers at Salk Institute found that higher temperatures drain plants of important dietary nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, affecting their long-term sustainability. The study's findings will inform the engineering of climate-resilient crops to address global warming's impact on food production.
In this study, researchers identified PIF transcriptional regulators and KAT1 gene as essential players in regulating stomata aperture during day/night cycles. This understanding can be used to optimize plant yield and adaptation to different stressors, such as drought conditions.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen discovered that a biological mechanism called autophagy plays a key role in plant root growth. By understanding how plants control their root growth, scientists can develop climate-resilient crops to thrive in harsh conditions.