Articles tagged with Plants
A recent study by Ohio State University found that highly cynical workers are more likely to file grievances, show lower commitment, and believe good work won't be rewarded by management. Effective management can reduce worker cynicism by clearly publicizing successful changes, according to co-author John Wanous.
The American Society of Plant Physiologists has self-published a comprehensive 1400-page textbook on biochemistry & molecular biology of plants, featuring original drawings and photographs. The book is designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses, and was introduced to sell well over 600 copies at the ASPP Annual Meeting.
Research by Australian scientist Peter Dingle found that potted plants have a limited effect on reducing formaldehyde levels, a toxic chemical linked to sick building syndrome. While plants can improve the aesthetic environment, they do not significantly clean the air of pollutants.
Researchers have discovered that spraying milk on cucumbers can effectively kill powdery mildew, a major problem for organic farmers. The solution, which involves mixing one part cow's milk with nine parts water and spraying it on the plants twice a week, has been shown to be faster and more effective than chemical fungicides.
Scientists have identified a close evolutionary connection between the photosynthetic reaction centre of bacteria and that of higher plants. Photosystem II in plants is a multi-enzyme complex comprising over 25 different proteins, which work together to convert sunlight into biochemical energy.
The Virginia Tech researchers have identified 30 unique extracts with activity and isolated 20 chemical compounds with bioactivity. The ethnobotanical approach has shown a slight benefit, yielding 3.8% of plants that were bioactive in yeast assays compared to 2.8% of randomly collected plants.
Researchers have successfully cloned a key gene responsible for pea stem growth, which codes for an enzyme that converts gibberellic acid into the compound promoting stem elongation. This discovery sheds light on why some plants are tall and others short, illustrating fundamental principles of genetics.
The American Phytopathological Society recognizes distinguished members with the Fellows designation for their contributions to plant pathology. The Society also presents several awards, including the Excellence in Extension Award and the Ruth Allen Award, to honor outstanding research and teaching achievements in the field.
The American Heart Association recommends consuming a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products to lower cholesterol. Phytochemicals like sterols, flavonoids, and sulfur-containing compounds inhibit cholesterol absorption.
A Penn State scientist has created a method to stimulate plants to produce valuable chemicals by mimicking their natural defense mechanisms. By using dead fungal cell fragments, the technique can increase production of desired compounds up to 500 times.
Scientists at Purdue University have uncovered the mechanism by which disease-resistant plants recognize disease-causing microbes. The discovery reveals that a protein-protein interaction between an enzyme called Pto kinase and a protein produced by the bacterium alerts the plant's defense mechanisms, leading to effective resistance.