Researchers at the University of Adelaide have identified a fundamental discovery that could help reduce the economic harm caused by Fusarium head blight, a fungal disease on the rise due to climate change. The study found that the TaHRC gene functions in wheat cells and can either increase or decrease susceptibility to FHB.
Researchers analyzed wheat-based glues used in historic bookbinding to understand their adhesiveness and degradation. They found that starch glue is more durable and flexible than flour glue, making it a potentially better choice for book repairs.
Recent research connects biological domestication to early food globalization, proposing a new conceptual framework that challenges traditional narratives. Archaeological investigations have shown that plant and animal domestication entailed a more gradual transition spanning thousands of years across extensive geographies.
A monoclonal antibody, omalizumab, increased the tolerance threshold for multiple food allergens, allowing children to consume larger amounts without a reaction. The treatment showed significant benefits in reducing allergic reactions, particularly for peanut and egg, with potential protection against accidental exposure.
Researchers created an AI-enabled model to help mitigate global ammonia emissions from agriculture. By optimizing fertilizer management, the model can effectively reduce emissions by up to 38%, with Asia having the highest potential for reduction.
A new study warns that climate change could reduce global wheat production by 13% by 2050 due to the spread of the fungal disease wheat blast. The affected regions will include South America, southern Africa and Asia, where up to 75% of total wheat acreage could be at risk.
Researchers have successfully grown striated muscle layers and flat fat layers using glutenin, a non-allergenic wheat protein. The edible film-based scaffolds can be combined to produce meat-like textures, promising a more realistic cultivated meat product.
WheatNet achieves superior performance in detecting wheat spikes with an average precision of 89.7% across filling and maturity stages, outperforming traditional methods. The method integrates a Transform Network to minimize color feature discrepancies and demonstrates excellent counting accuracy.
A recent study in Nature Communications has identified a gene cluster in wheat that produces triticein, an isoflavone compound with potential health benefits. This discovery offers opportunities for metabolic engineering efforts to improve wheat's nutritional quality and resistance to disease.
Researchers identified genetic mutations in peas that enable high iron accumulation, opening doors for biofortification of staple crops like wheat and barley. This breakthrough has the potential to reduce iron deficiency anaemia globally.
Ravi Neelipally, a PhD student at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, is investigating organic wheat-soybean double-cropping systems. His research aims to develop management practices that combat misconceptions surrounding organic farming's productivity and profitability.
Researchers found that different flours foster distinct bacterial communities, contributing to the variation in sourdough aromas and flavors. The study reveals that bakers can influence the aroma of their sourdough by using different flours.
Researchers found that plant-to-plant interactions can modulate disease susceptibility in both wheat and rice, with 23 same-species mixtures showing a significant effect. This phenomenon, known as Neighbor-Modulated Susceptibility, may be used to design varietal mixtures with embedded crop protection.
Researchers found that behaviors nourishing individual plant fitness can be detrimental to the whole community in high-density stands. Simulated shade may improve breeding for high-yielding cultivars by understanding molecular and genetic components of interactions between wheat plants.
A recent study by the University of Córdoba analyzed the genetic variability of spelt and common wheat varieties, revealing their diverse nutritional components. While spelt generally has higher concentrations of micronutrients like iron and zinc, it also contains more phytic acid, which reduces assimilation.
Research has clarified how starch granules form in wheat seeds, unlocking diverse potential benefits for various industries. The discovery of the enzyme PHS1 crucial for B-type granule initiation offers opportunities to create variations in starch for different food and industrial applications.
Researchers from the University of Bern found that maize roots secrete chemicals that improve soil quality and increase wheat yields. The study demonstrates potential for using specialized plant compounds to enhance crop productivity through variety-specific rotations.
A research group at Kyoto University has successfully developed a self-fertile buckwheat variety and a new type of the crop with a sticky texture. This breakthrough could contribute to the efficient breeding of less-common orphan crops, addressing the world's growing food demands.
Researchers at the University of Otago have found that gluten can cause brain inflammation in mice, a discovery that may have implications for human physiology. The study showed that gluten increased the number of immune cells in the brain, leading to hypothalamic inflammation.
A KAUST-led team has compiled the first complete genome map of einkorn, an ancient grain that could help develop bread wheat varieties with enhanced disease resistance and improved hardiness. The study reveals a complex evolutionary history of wheat species, including gene flow between einkorn and wild cousins.
Researchers sequenced einkorn wheat's genome, tracing its evolutionary history and identifying resilient properties that can be reintroduced into modern bread wheat. The study's findings provide insight into human migration and settlement, as well as potential solutions to protect the world's food supply.
Researchers have identified a new trichothecene, NX, produced by Fusarium graminearum, which contributes to the pathogen's ability to infect wheat and spread disease. Deleting the gene responsible for NX production reduces toxin levels and disease severity, providing potential control methods.
Researchers have developed a self-teaching web app called BRIDGEcereal that quickly and accurately analyzes genomic data for cereal crops, identifying patterns of DNA variations. This breakthrough tool is expected to revolutionize crop improvement by efficiently mining publicly accessible cereal pan-genomes.
A new study from Tufts University predicts a significant increase in extreme temperatures affecting wheat yields in the US and China. The research warns of potentially disastrous consequences for global food supplies if crops are impacted by heat stress, which can occur at temperatures above 27.8°C.
Researchers from the University of Arkansas found that organic sweetpotato growers can improve yields by selecting top-performing cultivars and using winter cover crops. The study also showed benefits for conventional production systems, as limited herbicides are available for weed management in sweetpotatoes.
A non-toxic method using wheat germ oil has been shown to reduce seed loss by up to 74 percent, even during mouse plagues. The technique works by camouflaging the seed odour, making it hard for mice to find food.
Researchers have cloned the wheat rust resistance genes Lr9 and Sr43, revealing that they encode unusual kinase fusion proteins. This breakthrough enables new options for addressing disease resistance in bread wheat and could lead to heat-resistant versions of the Sr43 gene to adapt to climate change.
Researchers have identified two novel DOF family transcription factors that enhance wheat regeneration and genetic transformation. These findings provide new insights into the transcriptional regulatory network involved in boosting wheat regeneration, offering opportunities for improving crop improvement.
Experts warn that fungal disease in crops could lead to unprecedented challenges in food production, causing losses equivalent to enough food for millions of people. The increasing prevalence of fungal infections is due to rising temperatures and the development of resistance to antifungals.
Researchers propose that 'lager yeast' S. pastorianus originated from a contamination event involving S. cerevisiae at the Duke's court brewery in Munich in 1602. The new findings suggest that lagers likely first emerged in Bavaria at least two hundred years earlier than previously thought.
A new AI method for leaf counting has been developed using deep learning techniques, which can count wheat leaves with high accuracy and speed. The method uses domain adaptation to improve the realism of images and can detect leaf tips even in challenging conditions.
A new study reveals that Indian farmers have adapted to climate change by changing management practices and using hardier crop varieties. However, the impact of climate change on crop yields varies across crops and regions, with some areas experiencing greater benefits than others.
A research team developed an AI approach to automate crop head counting, using synthetic annotated datasets to train deep learning models. The technique demonstrates improved accuracy and can be applied to other applications with dense repeating patterns.
Researchers found that TaMADS29 interacts with TaNF-YB1 to regulate early grain development in bread wheat. The complex helps prevent excessive ROS accumulation, promotes nutrient transport into the endosperm, and allows normal grain filling.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology identifies a global strain of emerging wheat disease fungus, highlighting the importance of genomic surveillance in tracking pathogen evolution and crop resistance. The research found that breeds of wheat carrying the Rmg8 gene are resistant to this fungal strain.
Scientists have identified specific genetic variants in wheat and barley that enable plants to adapt to nitrogen deficiency by increasing root growth and improving nitrogen content. These findings offer promising opportunities for plant breeding to develop varieties with enhanced nitrogen use efficiency.
Researchers teamed with Ethiopian farmers to develop new wheat varieties using genomic analysis. Farmers' knowledge played a crucial role in predicting crop yields and selecting optimal traits. The project aims to preserve agrobiodiversity and promote cultural heritage.
Researchers used demographic modeling to reconstruct wheat's evolutionary history during the Holocene, revealing its origins near the Caspian Sea and slow speciation process. The study also found that crop relatives are valuable for breeding resilient crops but face decline due to changes in human diets and climate change.
A University of Illinois project uses AI-powered object recognition to quantify kernel damage in wheat, enabling faster disease analysis and improved resistance. The technology has shown promising results, with potential for an online portal to automate scoring and support breeders in their efforts to eliminate fusarium head blight.
Researchers have uncovered the ancient roots of a gene in wheat that provides resistance to the devastating Wheat Yellow Mosaic Virus, which causes significant economic losses. The discovery could lead to more resistant wheat cultivars, increased crop yields, and reduced use of harmful fungicides.
Research by the University of the Basque Country found that gluten-free products often lack essential nutrients like fibre and protein. Gluten-free pasta, for example, is now made from millet instead of rice flour, improving nutrition.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have discovered a key to improving drought-resistant wheat plants by stimulating longer root growth. By increasing the copies of specific genes, plants can absorb water from deeper supplies, leading to increased biomass and higher grain yield.
Researchers used AgRenSeq genomic discovery method to identify two genes protecting experimental wheat plants against wheat blast. The study highlights the power of heritage wheat varieties and wild grass relatives in providing disease-fighting diversity.
Researchers from Purdue University have received funding from the Trask Innovation Fund to develop and test their innovations. The awards will support projects in various fields, including plant phenotyping, genome editing, and radiative cooling paints, aiming to enhance commercial value and industry applications.
Researchers study evolution of wheat spikes from ancient Mesopotamia to understand its adaptability to different environmental conditions. The study found that awned and awnless wheat varieties exist globally, with the latter dominating arid regions.
A study by researchers at the University of Göttingen investigated the effect of mixing wheat and faba beans on pollinating insects. They found that areas with mixed crops were visited equally often by foraging bees as those with single crops. The findings suggest that this mixture may counteract pollinator decline.
Researchers at the University of Reading are working on a £2 million project to increase UK-grown faba beans in bread, improving nutritional quality and sustainability. The 'Raising the Pulse' project aims to encourage farmers to switch wheat-producing land to faba bean for human consumption.
Researchers found that wheat lines with exotic DNA from wild relatives can achieve a 50% higher yield over elite lines under hot weather conditions. The study suggests incorporating heat tolerance traits into breeding programs to produce climate-resilient crops.
A new study found that nearly half of wheat crops in Europe are contaminated with harmful fungal toxins, including DON, which can cause vomiting and other gastrointestinal problems. The researchers estimate that 75-million tonnes of wheat exceeded the limit allowed for human consumption between 2010 and 2019, resulting in a loss of aro...
A recent study reveals that the SD6/ICE2 molecular module regulates seed dormancy in rice, controlling abscisic acid homeostasis. By editing this gene, researchers improved pre-harvest sprouting resistance in both rice and wheat, offering a promising strategy for improving crop yields.
A simple breeding experiment identified genes that promote cooperation and higher yields in plant populations. Plants with specific alleles were found to produce 15% more biomass when grown in close proximity, while reducing root competition.
Researchers have discovered a new height-reducing gene, Rht13, which enables reduced-height wheat varieties to be planted deeper in dry conditions without seedling emergence issues. This breakthrough could lead to more climate-resilient wheat and improved yields.
In northern China, about 4,000 years ago, farmers adopted a practice of purposeful water management to grow new grains. The results showed that the majority of wheat samples had isotopic values above an optimal watering threshold, indicating their growth was not limited by water availability.
The study focuses on reducing insects and pathogens that threaten crops, with manure serving as a potential solution. Researchers will investigate the most effective ways to apply manure to improve soil health and plant resistance to insect pests.
Researchers warn that UK wheat yields are vulnerable to increasingly frequent extreme weather events due to climate change. The study found that while warmer temperatures can benefit yields, multiple extreme weather events can lead to significant negative impacts on production.
A recent study investigated the effects of climate change on wheat yields in North America, revealing that new and old varieties respond differently to rising temperatures. The research found a declining rate of improvement in both winter and spring wheat yields with increased warming.
Researchers discovered a new genetic variation in old wheat varieties that enhances yield potential and resistance to yellow rust, potentially replacing current elite varieties. The findings also reveal possible new gene variants for resistance to yellow rust infestation, paving the way for more sustainable farming practices.
Researchers decode Sr35 wheat protein's structure and function, revealing its role in protecting Einkorn wheat from Ug99. The discovery provides a crucial tool for improving crop resistance and ensuring global food security.
The University of Exeter team identified a 'master regulator' that controls the formation of invasive hyphae in the fungus Zymoseptoria tritici. This discovery provides a crucial target for developing new control strategies against Septoria tritici blotch, a destructive fungal disease affecting wheat yields worldwide.
Indiana University's Roger Innes leads a $1.2 million research grant project to create Fusarium Head Blight-resistant wheat and barley using genome editing techniques. The goal is to reduce dependence on environmentally damaging pesticides and increase crop yields.