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The gene helping submerged plants

Researchers at Stockholm University found a special gene PLD that helps plants stay healthy and resistant to oxygen deficiency when underwater. The study suggests that increasing the amount of this gene may help protect crops from flooding, improving harvest yields.

SourceStockholm University·JournalPhysiologia Plantarum·DateDec 17, 2018

Hot temperatures can trigger an RNA response in plants

A team of Penn State researchers found that hot temperatures lead to changes in plant RNA structure, linked to a loss in messenger RNAs. This process may help plants cope with heat stress and drought conditions, offering insights into developing more resilient crops.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 5, 2018

Plant peptide spells relief from salty stress

Researchers at RIKEN have discovered a hormone-like peptide in plants that increases their resistance to excessive salt. The peptide, AT13, enhances salinity stress tolerance and can be applied as a natural supplement for crops growing in high-salt conditions.

SourceRIKEN·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 14, 2018

Plants overcome hunger with the aid of autophagy

Researchers at Tohoku University discovered that plants activate autophagy in leaf cells to derive essential amino acids during periods of low sunlight. This process allows plants to survive and grow under conditions of energy scarcity, enabling them to adapt to environmental challenges.

SourceTohoku University·JournalPlant and Cell Physiology·DateMar 12, 2018

Plants feel the heat

A team of researchers has discovered that plants' daily cycle of heat resistance is triggered by light exposure and involves chloroplast signalling. This finding could lead to the development of crops that can withstand increasingly hot temperatures and more frequent heatwaves under climate change.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalCell Reports·DateFeb 13, 2018

Peas that like it hot

A new study reveals genetic insights into heat tolerance in peas, identifying two key traits: longer flowering duration and higher pod numbers. These traits can help breed more resilient pea varieties for warmer climates.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalCrop Science·DateAug 23, 2017

New rice fights off drought

Scientists at RIKEN developed transgenic rice strains that resist drought stress, showing higher yields and increased biomass. The modified rice lines produced more galactinol, a key osmoprotectant, to cope with water loss, leading to improved drought tolerance.

SourceRIKEN·JournalPlant Biotechnology Journal·DateApr 4, 2017

ANU leads effort to develop drought-proof crops

International researchers at ANU have discovered an enzyme that senses adverse drought and sunlight conditions, enabling plants to respond with beneficial chemical compounds. This breakthrough could lead to the development of next-generation drought-proof crops, crucial for global food security.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 18, 2016

Sweet corn genes related to crowding stress identified

Researchers at the University of Illinois identified clusters of genes that are associated with yield under crowding stress in sweet corn, finding that high-yielding hybrids utilize gene activities more directly related to carbohydrate accumulation. The study also found a common genetic basis for the yield response in six tested hybrids.

Plants also suffer from stress

A team of researchers has identified a protein family that helps plants grow on salt, revealing a mechanism for improving plant growth under salt stress conditions. The study found that these proteins support the cellulose synthase machinery during cellulose synthesis, helping plants maintain biomass production under salt.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalCell·DateSep 4, 2015

Stressed out plants send animal-like signals

Researchers have discovered that plants bind GABA in a similar way to animals, resulting in electrical signals that regulate plant growth when exposed to stressful environments. This finding opens up new possibilities for breeding more stress resilient crops to fight food insecurity.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 29, 2015

Study offers new method of identifying sweet corn hybrids for increased yield and profit

Researchers have developed a new method to compare and identify processing sweet corn hybrids with improved crowding stress tolerance (CST), enabling growers to maximize yields and profits. The approach involves growing hybrids at higher plant populations than usual, allowing for more efficient comparison of CST among different hybrids.

Coping with stress in a changing world

This collection of reviews covers the impact of environmental changes on organisms, including molecular mechanisms and epigenetic factors. Key findings highlight the complexity of stress responses across generations, emphasizing the need for integrated cell stress responses for survival.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateDec 18, 2013

Confirmed: How plant communities endure stress

A global meta-analysis supports the Stress Gradient Hypothesis, showing that plant interactions become more influential in positive ways when ecosystems face threats like drought. The study found that as stress increases, negative interactions weaken, while mutual support strengthens across various plant types and conditions.

SourceBrown University·JournalEcology Letters·DateJan 30, 2013

Plants in space!

Researchers at Michigan State University are studying plant adaptation to space stress using Arabidopsis mutants without functional IRE1 pathways. The goal is to gain insight into gene regulation and develop protocols for managing stress levels in space.

Drought tolerance in crops: Shutting down the plant's growth inhibition under mild stress

Plant hormone ethylene plays a major role in shutting down growth inhibition during mild drought stress. The study shows that plants grow slower when water becomes limiting but can resume growth if the stress is temporary. By targeting this response, crop varieties can be developed to improve productivity and reduce yield losses.