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Scientists discover how fungi interact with soil actinomycetes

Researchers found that the presence of a fungus increases the pH of the soil, promoting growth of beneficial bacteria. This interaction could lead to sustainable agricultural practices by harnessing microbial interactions to combat plant diseases.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalEnvironmental Microbiology Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 22, 2024
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Food security: discovery of a gene for immunity against a disease that ravages rice and wheat crops

Researchers have identified a new type of resistance gene in plants called Ptr, which makes rice immune to certain strains of the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. This finding invalidates previous studies on another gene named Pi-ta and opens up new avenues for understanding natural resistance to disease.

SourceINRAE - National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment·JournalNature Plants·DateJun 5, 2024

Study IDs secret of stealthy invader essential to ruinous rice disease

Researchers have identified an essential stage in the takeover of rice cells by a fungus, which could accelerate treatment or prevention of rice blast disease. The discovery involves a modification in tRNA molecules that aid in protein construction, and its absence leads to reduced virulence.

SourceUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln·JournalNature Microbiology·DateAug 24, 2023

Genome editing used to create disease resistant rice

A team of scientists used CRISPR-Cas genome editing to create a disease-resistant rice variety, which showed high yields and resistance to the fungus that causes rice blast. The new rice variety produced five times more yield than the control rice in small-scale field trials.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 15, 2023

Iron boosts rice immune system

Researchers have found that iron treatment increases rice's resistance to infection by the pathogenic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Exposure to moderate levels of iron triggers a process called ferroptosis, which limits the progression of the fungus and controls the infection.

SourceCenter for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)·JournalRice·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 20, 2023

Discovery could lead to new fungicides to protect rice crops

Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that a fungus secretes an enzyme that punches holes in rice leaves, making it vulnerable to chemical blockers. The team is now screening chemicals to find ones that block the enzyme's ability to digest plant cell walls.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2023
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Rice blast fungus discovery will drive crop innovation

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.

SourceJohn Innes Centre·JournalNature·DateOct 16, 2019

Discovery could pave the way for disease-resistant rice crops

Researchers have identified a specific rice immune receptor that can trigger immune reactions in response to multiple fungal proteins, paving the way for disease-resistant rice crops. Gene-editing technologies could be used to precisely insert genes into rice plants, overcoming issues with linkage drag and enhancing disease resistance.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateAug 15, 2019
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Study could spawn better ways to combat crop-killing fungus

A study led by Rutgers University scientists has found that a fungus causing devastating rice disease became harmful 21 million years ago. The researchers identified key genes and proteins that promote the infection process, offering insights into developing new fungicides and quarantines to combat crop diseases.

SourceRutgers University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 26, 2018

Breakthrough in battle against rice blast

A team of scientists has found a way to trap the rice blast fungus within a single plant cell, stopping its spread. The breakthrough discovery reveals how the fungus manipulates natural channels to evade the plant's immune system.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalScience·DateMar 26, 2018

Protecting rice crops at no extra cost

A new study identified a genetic mechanism in rice that provides resistance to devastating disease without compromising grain yield. Researchers discovered that co-expression of PigmS limits seed damage associated with PigmR, allowing for increased protection and yield.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateFeb 2, 2017

Secrets in the soil

Researchers at the University of Delaware have discovered a combination of beneficial soil microbes that can boost rice plant defenses against both arsenic and fungal diseases. By applying a 'health cocktail' of these microbes, plants can better withstand stresses, providing a natural solution for addressing global food security concerns.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateNov 17, 2016

Fighting rice fungus

A study published by University of Delaware plant scientists has identified a stress hormone that appears to increase the virulence of the rice blast fungus. The research may lead to new control methods for the devastating disease.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateDec 22, 2015
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Microbe mobilizes 'iron shield' to block arsenic uptake in rice

Researchers have discovered a soil microbe that mobilizes an "iron shield" to block the uptake of toxic arsenic in rice. The microbe, EA106, forms a plaque on the surface of roots that competes with arsenic, effectively blocking its pathway. Inoculations with EA106 improved iron uptake and reduced arsenic accumulation in plants.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalPlanta·DateJun 15, 2015

Blunting rice disease

Researchers at the University of Delaware have discovered a naturally occurring microbe that inhibits the devastating fungus known as rice blast, inducing a defense response in rice plants. The beneficial soil microbe, Pseudomonas chlororaphis EA105, reduces fungal growth by 76% and lesion size.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalBMC Plant Biology·DateJun 2, 2014

Rice blast research reveals details on how a fungus invades plants

Researchers have found that the rice blast fungus uses two distinct secretion systems to invade plant tissue, shedding light on a devastating crop disease. The discovery is a step towards controlling blast disease, which destroys enough rice to feed 60 million people annually.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 18, 2013

Scientists awarded $5.5 million for wheat, rice blast research

A team of Kansas State University researchers, led by Barbara Valent, has been awarded $5.5 million to develop resistant varieties and diagnostic tools for two deadly diseases: wheat blast and rice blast. The project aims to improve U.S. rice production and protect the nation's wheat crop.

SourceKansas State University·DateApr 24, 2013
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

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University of Exeter research uncovers rice blast infection mechanism

Scientists at the University of Exeter have identified a specialized group of proteins called septins in plant infection for the first time. The discovery sheds light on how the rice blast fungus channels its pressure to form an infection peg that breaches the rice leaf surface, enabling it to infect rice tissue.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalScience·DateJun 21, 2012

Examining rice genes for rice blast resistance

Agricultural Research Service scientist Yulin Jia characterized the molecular mechanism of some plants' ability to resist rice blast, a fungal disease affecting cereal grain crops. He also mapped two major blast-resistance genes from a Chinese rice cultivar, which have been reported in several scientific journals.

SourceUnited States Department of Agriculture - Research, Education and Economics·JournalPhytopathology·DateOct 17, 2011

Climate adaptation of rice

Researchers discovered that colonizing rice plants with fungal spores from naturally salt-tolerant plants enhances their ability to withstand cold, salt, and drought. This emerging strategy, called symbiogenics, could help mitigate climate change impacts on global food security.

SourceU.S. Geological Survey·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 13, 2011

Chemical-free pest management cuts rice waste

A collaborative EUREKA project developed an integrated pest management system, reducing rice waste by over 95% through sustainable technologies. The system uses electronic insect traps, aeration, and modified atmosphere to protect rice during storage, improving quality and food security.

SourceEUREKA·DateMar 17, 2011
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

With fungi on their side, rice plants grow to be big

Researchers found that manipulating fungal genetics increases rice growth by five-fold, addressing global phosphate reserves critically low issues. The breakthrough exploits the fungus's genetic variation and segregation processes without introducing new genes.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJun 10, 2010

ARS scientists identify genetic resistance to rice sheath blight

Researchers at ARS Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center have identified a genetic region qShB9-2 that controls sheath blight in rice. They also developed a standardized screening technique to detect the disease in seedlings, accelerating the process of identifying resistant germplasm.

SourceUnited States Department of Agriculture - Research, Education and Economics·JournalPlant Disease·DateMay 4, 2010

Vietnamese agricultural leader awarded prestigious rice research honor

Bui Chi Buu, director general of the Institute of Agricultural Science for Southern Vietnam, has been awarded the Senadhira Rice Research Award for his outstanding work in developing popular rice varieties in Vietnam. His efforts have led to the certification of many rice varieties grown by farmers throughout the Mekong Delta.

SourceInternational Rice Research Institute·DateDec 3, 2008

Scientists a step closer to protecting world's most important crop

Researchers at the University of Exeter have identified a single gene crucial to the rice-killing fungus's ability to infect plants. The discovery could lead to the development of effective chemicals to combat the devastating disease, which affects half of the world's population and kills enough rice to feed 60 million people annually.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature·DateMar 22, 2006
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Purdue researchers find key to rice blast fungus

Researchers identified an enzyme called MAP kinase as a crucial player in the fungus' attack, triggering cellular communication necessary for fungal invasion. Understanding this process is essential to develop new fungicides or resistant rice plants.

SourcePurdue University·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateJun 30, 2005

Researchers uncover sequence of major rice pathogen

The study reveals novel receptors that enable the fungus to recognize its environment, as well as secreted proteins used to damage rice plants. The M. grisea genome contains retro-elements, which may contribute to its rapid evolution of new strains.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalNature·DateApr 21, 2005

Scientists sequence genome of rice-killing fungus

Researchers have sequenced the genome of Magnaporthe grisea, a fungus that causes rice blast, which destroys enough rice to feed 60 million people worldwide. The genomic structure is now available online, offering opportunities to dissect, understand and manage plant disease.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·DateJul 26, 2002
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Rice research another step forward for green revolution

A new system of planting different varieties of rice plants can significantly reduce problems with the fungal disease 'blast', which causes lesions on rice plants, reduces yields and in severe cases can kill entire crops. This approach has been shown to eliminate losses to blast in some types of glutinous rice.

SourceOregon State University·JournalNature·DateAug 15, 2000