Articles tagged with Seeds
Researchers produced genetically modified linseed plants that accumulate significant levels of very long chain poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in seed, improving human nutrition. The production of these oils in plants may reduce unsustainable pressures on fisheries and provide a sustainable alternative for consumers.
Researchers discovered that controlling temperature and daylight regulated bulb growth, allowing for flowering and seed production in garlic plants. This breakthrough opens possibilities for genetic diversity, pest resistance, and improved yields.
Researchers found starch grains from barley and wheat on a grinding stone at Ohalo II, dating back 13,000-45,000 years. This discovery suggests that people processed these grains to make them more digestible around 14,800 years ago.
Research shows that larger ants are better at carrying seeds far from their mother plants, but invasive species like Argentine and fire ants pose a threat to native plant populations. The study found that smaller ants cannot disperse seeds as efficiently, leading to reduced seedling survival.
Corn's genetic origins have been revised after a study found it arose from a serendipitously viable cross between teosinte and gamagrass. Eubanks' research confirms teosinte was an ancestor of corn, with gamagrass contributing key genes.
The current Brazil nut harvesting practices are not sustainable in the long term due to disrupted regeneration cycles, leading to a dwindling number of older trees. The researchers recommend close monitoring and management of exploited populations to avoid future failures and encourage younger tree establishment.
A new study found that overharvesting Brazil nuts significantly reduces seedling and young trees in the Amazon. Scientists recommend limiting harvests, restricting seasons, or planting more trees to ensure sustainability.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences documents harm caused by habitat fragmentation to a tree species native to Tanzania. The research found that birds that disperse seeds for the tree are rare or absent in fragmented areas, leading to poor seed regeneration and threatening the tree's survival.
Researchers at Purdue University have discovered a new method using infrared spectroscopy and statistical analysis to classify dietary supplement oils and common food oils. The study found that the FT-IR method could identify adulteration levels down to 2%, allowing for faster and less expensive quality control.
Researchers are exploring ways to combat the devastating impact of the Asian woody adelgid on western North Carolina's hemlock forests. CAMCORE, a global forest conservation program, is working with natural predators and developing resistant tree varieties to preserve genetic diversity.
Researchers found high concentrations of BMAA in bat skins, which may have contributed to the Chamorro people's increased risk of ALS/PDC. The findings support a hypothesis linking flying foxes to the disease.
Deer facilitate seed dispersal to native plants in recovering habitats, but also spread invasive species like multiflora rose. White-tailed deer transport seeds up to two miles through their pellets, contributing to plant migration.
Researchers have successfully expressed a variant of the maize anthranilate synthase (AS) gene in soybean seeds to increase tryptophan content. The modifications aim to improve the nutritional value of soybeans, but further testing is needed to confirm results.
Transgenic rice seeds expressing a thermotolerant and bi-functional starch hydrolase produce high-protein flour and sugar syrups. The unique feature of heat-activated rapid autodrolysis eliminates the need for commercial enzymes, improving efficiency and production cost.
Scientists investigate rice genome for clues on seed dormancy, a key trait to fight preharvest sprouting. They develop populations segregating for dormancy and identify genetic attributes associated with heritability.
A new research study suggests that grape seed extract can blunt salt-sensitive hypertension in postmenopausal women, similar to the effects of plant estrogens or 17ß-estradiol. The study found that adding grape seed extract to a high-salt diet reduced blood pressure in estrogen-depleted female rats.
Researchers have identified genetically superior cultivars of native grasses that can outcompete invasive species like cheatgrass. These findings could inform the development of effective re-vegetation strategies for burned and degraded lands.
A research team at Rockefeller University has discovered a novel protein, AFP, that regulates early growth arrest in young plants. This development provides insights into how plants naturally tolerate drought and stress, with potential applications in creating drought-resistant crops.
NASA's space station has successfully grown its first commercial farming experiment - soybeans grown in microgravity. The experiment, conducted by DuPont, aims to accelerate crop development and improve crop yields.
A meta-analysis by Ohio State University researchers found that higher CO2 levels increase crop yields, but decrease the nutritional value of crops. While plants grown in high-CO2 conditions produce more seeds and individual seed weight, they contain less nitrogen.
A University of Florida-led study examines the effects of wildlife corridors on plant pollination and seed dispersal. The findings suggest that corridors encourage the movement of plants and animals, improving ecosystem health. The large-scale experiment provides valuable insights into the benefits of wildlife corridors.
Researchers found that native plants outcompete exotic species when provided with seeds, but their low seed availability is likely due to historical grazing and drought. This discovery suggests that providing seeds may be enough to restore native species in many areas.
Researchers at Ohio State University have found that genetically engineered sunflowers can transfer their insect-killing gene to wild sunflower relatives, increasing seed production and fitness. The study suggests that this could be a concern for the spread of transgenes in natural environments.
A new, late blight-resistant potato variety developed by Cornell University will be given to Russian company Dokagene Technologies. The potato can also resist golden nematodes, scab, and potato virus Y, making it a valuable resource for Russian farmers.
A new herbicide-resistant maize technology has been developed to combat Striga hermonthica, or witchweed, which infests approximately 20-40 million hectares of farmland in sub-Saharan Africa. The method, tested for over ten crop seasons, shows promising results, increasing yields up to four-fold in fields highly infested with witchweed.
Researchers found that the interaction between Lithophragma parviflorum and Greya politella is a rare example of coevolution in action, with outcomes ranging from mutualism to antagonism. The study highlights the importance of considering large geographic scales to understand how coevolution shapes biodiversity.
Researchers found that a weevil released to control Canada thistle in the US instead harms a native thistle species, Tracy's thistle. The weevil reduced seed production by two-thirds in infested stands, with no impact on non-native thistles.
A 125-million-year-old fossilized plant has provided clues about the evolution of modern flowering plants, which are the dominant vegetation on Earth. The discovery, made in northeast China, shows that flowering plants may have originated underwater before transitioning to land.
Researchers from National University of Singapore and John Innes Center discover protein RGL2 acts as molecular crossroad for seed germination. RGL2 accumulates upon imbibition and suppresses germination in absence of gibberellin, but is suppressed by GA allowing germination to begin.
A study found that invasive Argentine ants eliminate native ant species, affecting seed burial and plant regeneration in fynbos ecosystems. This disruption can have cascading effects on the entire community, highlighting the threat of invasive species.
Researchers observed high numbers of corn rootworm beetles near corn edges in prairie remnants, with 10 times more at the edge than at a distance. The beetles damage sunflowers, potentially reducing seed set and affecting pollinator visitation.
Researchers have discovered how plants' self-incompatibility works on a molecular level, revealing highly specific lock-and-key interactions between pollen and stigma. This breakthrough could enable genetic engineers to short-circuit reproduction and increase genetic variability in crops like tomatoes and rice.
Russian scientists have developed a plant growth stimulator that can increase grass growth rate by 40% under controlled conditions, reducing the 18-month wait for harvest. Field tests are underway to assess its effectiveness in cleaning up oil-contaminated fields and agrochemicals.
A University of Florida study reveals that birds are immune to the spicy chemical in chili peppers, making them essential for seed dispersal. This allows the seeds to germinate and grow in optimal conditions, benefiting the pepper plant's survival.
A new UC Berkeley study reveals that diverse ecosystems are not immune to invasion by alien species. In a series of experiments, researchers found that high diversity actually increases the likelihood of invader establishment in larger ecosystems.
Rainforest fragments experience 'edge effects' that hinder seed germination, with seeds being three to seven times less likely to sprout than those in continuous forests. Inbreeding can further reduce reproduction rates, threatening the survival of populations in forest fragments.
Researchers found that smoke directly penetrates seeds, triggering germination, and that various factors influence the process, including charred wood, Nitrogen dioxide, and soil moisture levels. The study suggests fire behavior has a significant impact on post-fire ecosystems.
Research on Nicotiana attenuata reveals that induced defenses can have both ecological benefits and costs, including resource-based costs and potential negative impacts on seed production. The discovery of endogenous wound signals, such as jasmonic acid, has provided tools to activate defenses independently of herbivore attack.
Researchers confirm that plants have an adaptive immune-like response to insect damage, increasing seed production by 60% and resisting pests. The study used wild radish as a model plant and found that triggering this response enhanced plant fitness, providing a potential alternative to chemical pesticides.
CSIRO scientists have discovered a gene in Arabidopsis that allows it to bypass normal pollination and form seed. The hunt is on to find equivalent genes in commercial plants like rice to develop seedless crops through apomixis.
Archaeologists found that prehistoric Indian villagers in southeastern Iowa consumed knotweed and little barley seeds, which were rich in carbohydrates. The discovery sheds light on the diet and agriculture practices of the Oneota Culture, a Native American tribe that lived from 1580 to 1640.
Seedlings of American mahogany trees can only successfully establish themselves on open land, not in the shade of other trees. Logging practices are creating 'mahogany deserts' by replacing mature trees with seedlings, posing a threat to the species' long lifespan of up to 600 years.