Articles tagged with Plants
A team from the University of Illinois has developed a new method to quickly screen thousands of plants for key traits related to photosynthesis. This breakthrough technology uses hyperspectral cameras to analyze light reflected off plant surfaces and estimate trait values, allowing researchers to identify promising plants for further ...
A new study reveals that plants transfer excess energy from chlorophyll to carotenoids, which release it as heat, preventing photodamage. This discovery could help scientists develop new ways to improve crop yields by understanding the natural photoprotection system of plants.
A study published in Ecology found that a native sweat bee species, Halictus ligatus, has a daily routine that makes it a promising pollinator. The bees were found to consistently visit the same plant species day-to-day, making them valuable for commercial crop pollination.
The durian tree emits a potent smell due to the amino acid ethionine, which is released by a plant-specific enzyme during fruit ripening. The amino acid has been linked to liver damage and cancer in animal tests, but low concentrations may have positive immunomodulatory effects.
Researchers found that a specific gene is switched off in alpine plants, allowing them to grow hairs and protect against UV sunlight. The discovery could aid the production of useful chemicals and provide insights into plant evolution.
A team of archaeologists and Traditional Owners identified 10 plant foods, including fruits, nuts, roots, and palm stem, preserved as charcoal at the Madjedbebe archaeological site. The discovery provides insights into the complex lifestyle of the earliest Australian Aboriginal people.
Researchers found opossums removing bracts and eating nectar from Scybalium fungiforme flowers, confirming a nearly three-decade-old theory. The study also revealed hummingbirds as secondary pollinators, adding complexity to the plant's adaptation.
An interdisciplinary study found that biodiversity increases yield and revenue in semi-natural grasslands. The researchers discovered that maintaining higher levels of plant diversity leads to improved forage quality and increased income from milk sales, comparable to the difference between extensively and intensively farmed land.
Researchers found that invasive rusty crayfish are successful colonizers due to their adaptable diet, which includes both plant and animal matter. The study's findings support the notion that rusty crayfish are opportunistic omnivores.
Plant researchers have discovered a dual guidance system that enables plants to grow stronger and respond more flexibly to environmental cues. This autonomous system allows cellulose synthase complexes to interact with chemical trails left by other complexes, guiding the arrangement of cellulose fibres.
A global team of scientists is analyzing satellite and drone data to better understand the impact of climate change on Arctic vegetation. The research found that the greening of Arctic regions is caused by more than just warming temperatures, with other changes including differences in snowmelt and landscape wetness.
A study by Cornell University researchers found that hemp plants' propensity to become unusable due to high THC levels is determined by genetics, not environmental factors. The team discovered a correlation between the plants' genetics and chemical production, providing new insights into breeding low-THC hemp varieties.
Researchers discovered that nitrogen fertilizers shape the composition of individual members of the tomato microbiota, with Actinobacteria colonizing root tissues. The diet represented by different nitrogen treatments determines the plant microbiota, highlighting potential targets for optimizing plant nutrition and global food security.
Researchers have identified chickpea genes that offer robust non-host resistance to Alternaria blight, a devastating fungal disease affecting Brassica crops. The study reveals these genes can suppress fungal development and colonization in mustard plants, paving the way for blight-resistant crop varieties.
Researchers found that each bumble bee species selected a different assortment of flowers, even when foraging across the same landscape. The study identified 14 plant species preferentially selected by bumble bees, including thickstem aster and Rydberg's penstemon.
Research suggests that reducing emissions of ozone-forming gases from human activities such as road transport and energy production can improve plant growth and capture more carbon. A 50% cut in these emissions is proposed as a large but plausible target to mitigate ozone-induced loss of plant productivity.
Scientists at Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research discovered a new type of centromere in the European dodder, Cuscuta europaea. Unlike typical monocentric or holocentric species, the unique centromere in C. europaea was found to be independent of CENH3 histone distribution.
Scientists at the University of Münster have developed a vaccine-like treatment that stimulates plants' natural immune system using a specific pattern in chitosan, a biopolymer. This breakthrough could lead to reduced chemical pesticide use and improved plant growth, as well as potential applications in scar-free wound healing.
Researchers discovered diverse fungal communities associated with camas seeds and roots, which may support its establishment in restored habitats. These findings could help scientists restore native prairie and wetland ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest.
Researchers identified specific genomic regions that have changed in response to natural selection to allow plant species to adapt to new climatic conditions. These adaptations are linked to traits such as winter survival and flowering, enabling plants to thrive in diverse climates.
School packed lunches in the UK still have low nutritional quality, with only 1.6% meeting food standards, according to a study. The analysis found that sugar levels decreased, while vitamin C content dropped significantly.
A new study reveals that landscapes with mixed land uses are more productive and stable than those with uniform use. The research found that diverse landscapes can mitigate effects of climate variation and interact in ways that improve the functioning of the entire landscape.
A research team led by Ana Caicedo at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has identified missing links in the tomato's evolution. The study reveals that the modern cultivated tomato is most closely related to a weed-like tomato group found in Mexico, not semi-domesticated intermediate types found in South America.
Researchers analyzed 208 plant species across various environmental factors, finding that all three factor types have similar effects on plant performance. This study highlights the importance of considering multiple factors when predicting future biodiversity changes.
Researchers have engineered a new variety of gene-edited tomato plants that can be grown in compact spaces, producing ripe fruit in under 40 days. These 'urban agriculture tomatoes' are designed to thrive in urban environments or other places with limited space, such as on the roof of a skyscraper or in space.
Dodder parasitic plant avoids genetic evolution arms race with host plants by sending microRNAs that shut down defense genes. The parasite targets conserved host genes and creates multiple versions of its genetic weaponry to ensure effectiveness.
A team of Russian scientists found that adding micromolar selenium doses to hydroponic substrate increases the levels of useful biologically active compounds in sweet basil leaves. This concentration is safe for the plant, leading to higher antioxidant levels and enhanced nutritional properties.
A new study by John Innes Centre reveals that warmer Octobers can lead to higher oilseed rape yields, as plants grow longer under warmer conditions. This is the first 'lab in a field' experiment, which simulated warmer October temperatures using soil surface warming cables.
A new study found that lower elevation Silversword plants are less drought-resistant than higher elevation plants, leading to increased mortality rates. The researchers suggest using suitable habitats for the plants in a changing climate rather than breeding them with drought-resistant genes.
Cyanobacteria and plants use similar mechanisms to regulate cyclic electron flow during photosynthesis, according to LMU biologists Marcel Dann and Dario Leister. Two proteins, PGRL1 and PGR5, mediate control of CEF in plants.
A study assesses landscape plants using consumers' activity levels, revealing four quadrants: actively immersive, passively immersed, actively absorptive, and passively absorptive. This segmentation can improve marketing efforts for plant producers, wholesalers, and retailers.
A team of researchers from Japan and the UK has identified a crucial communication route in developing chloroplasts, the energy factories of plant cells. The newly characterized protein GUN1 regulates tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, controlling the cell's production of heme.
A new study reveals European ash has moderately good resistance to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a beetle that has devastated ash species in the USA and some parts of Russia. The research found that European ash can restrict EAB development, while also exhibiting similar resistance to Manchurian ash.
Researchers at Colorado State University have found that hops can be induced to flower without the traditional vernalization period, enabling year-round indoor production. This breakthrough could lead to a new era of sustainable and locally grown hops, supporting the craft brewing industry.
Researchers at MIT have developed a robot with an extendable appendage that can twist and turn in various configurations, yet remains rigid enough to support heavy loads. The robot's design is inspired by the way plants grow, allowing it to adapt to different tasks and environments.
Researchers developed an affordable, open-source monitoring system called GMpi using Raspberry Pi computers. The system allows flexible and secure remote monitoring of plant growth facilities, ensuring reproducibility and peace of mind.
Researchers developed new techniques to measure heat tolerance in quinoa, a health food rich in essential amino acids. The method uses spectral reflectance indices to assess plant growth under high temperatures, providing insights into grain production and paving the way for breeding more resilient varieties.
Researchers from SMART have discovered a new method called Molecular Probe Adsorption (MPA) that enables the exploration of nanoparticle surfaces without damaging them. This breakthrough technique is substantially faster and cheaper than existing chemical methods, allowing for universal characterization of nanoparticles with any geomet...
Certain species of resident bacteria can produce enzymes to break down fungal cell walls, protecting plant roots. The discovery represents a big step forward for developing sustainable crop production systems with fewer pesticides.
Researchers discovered that Vitamin E works in plants under extreme conditions by sending signals from chloroplasts to the cell nucleus. This retrograde signalling mechanism helps regulate key aspects of plant development, such as senescence and ripening of fruits.
New research reveals that daylight hours are the key factor in starting Africa's iconic 'green-up' phenomenon, where plants and trees grow their leaves. The study found shorter daylight hours before the growing season resulted in later vegetation growth.
Researchers have generated genetic resources for three different varieties of millets, which can lead to the development of new crop varieties. The study's findings uncover tiny differences in DNA sequences that may be connected to characteristics like drought tolerance and growth rate.
A six-year study has uncovered the existence of a sensor in appressoria that tells the fungus when to rupture the rice leaf. This discovery provides a platform for developing fungicides against rice blast, one of the deadliest crop killers, and could also apply to other septin-mediated fungi.
A new survey confirms that muscadine grapes are susceptible to parasitic nematodes, which can impact yield and grape quality. The study found seven types of nematodes associated with muscadines in Georgia and North Carolina.
Scientists discovered that microscopic droplets on leaf surfaces provide refuge to bacteria, allowing them to survive dry conditions. The study's findings may enable the development of practices supporting healthy plant microbiomes in agricultural and natural settings.
A new study by Hebrew University researchers found that bacteria can survive in tiny droplets on leaf surfaces during the day. The droplets, formed through a process called deliquescence, protect bacterial cells from drying out and allow them to thrive.
A new study in PLOS ONE shows that certain hybrids are naturally density tolerant, improving yield when planted at higher populations. Increasing populations of density-tolerant hybrids can lead to an average extra $40 per acre in profit for growers and up to $120 to $280 per acre for processors.
A new study at Michigan State University has identified a cyanobacterial gene family that helps control carbon dioxide fixation in photosynthesis. The discovery also opens doors to designing systems for sustainable biotech production and increasing energy yield from photosynthesis.
Under climate warming up to 1.7 °C, sedge plants prioritize root growth over shoot growth due to nitrogen supply limitations; however, as warming intensifies, shoots become more prominent, indicating nitrogen supply now outpaces plant demand.
Researchers discovered a unique mechanism involving calcium, auxin and a calcium-binding protein that regulates plant growth. This interface determines how plants grow in response to environmental signals like light, humidity and salinity.
Marsh plants produce more stems that are noticeably smaller under high carbon dioxide, but adding nitrogen reverses this effect. This adaptation may help marshes absorb energy from storms and build soil, providing a defensive power against sea level rise.
Researchers have developed a new flaxseed cultivar called ND Hammond with significantly higher seed yield than other varieties. It also exhibits resistance to Fusarium wilt and flax rust diseases, making it an attractive option for US farmers.
Researchers found that tortoises cannot distinguish the lower petal surfaces of daisies with closed flowers, which are camouflaged to avoid herbivores. This novel defense mechanism does not negatively impact pollination interactions.
Researchers found that plants use the same transcription factor to regulate growth and defense, but require different levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for each process. This incompatibility leads to a trade-off between growth and defense, with implications for plant biomass production and disease resistance.
Researchers tested the 'island rule' on plant species colonizing islands in the Southwest Pacific and found that their stature and leaf area followed the rule. However, plant seed size did not conform to the rule, suggesting a more nuanced relationship between island habitats and organismal traits.
A new study by Indiana University researchers reveals that acid deposition causes plants to intensify their water use, leading to a decrease in soil water availability and increasing the risk of drought-related mortality. The mechanism works by washing out soil calcium, causing calcium deficiency in plants.
Researchers at NC State University have developed a portable technology that can identify plant diseases in the field by analyzing airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The device, which can be plugged into a smartphone, works by measuring the type and concentration of VOCs released by plants to determine if they are diseased.
Agrivoltaics combines solar panels and agriculture to create a more efficient and sustainable system. This practice reduces evaporation of irrigation waters in summer and increases photosynthesis, leading to improved crop growth and reduced water usage.
Researchers at Michigan State University discovered a new mechanism determining how carbon is stored in soils, which could improve climate resilience and reduce carbon footprints. Soils from ecosystems with higher plant diversity have more pores of the right size for stable carbon storage.
MVApp enables statistical analyses of vast plant-science datasets, extracting valuable information on plant physiology and growth patterns. The platform incorporates quantile regression to quantify trait contributions to yield, facilitating reproducible results.