Agriculture Archives - Page 6 of 45 - The Global Plant Council

Mar 29

Image: When sorghum begins producing grain-laden flowers (left) the plants stop growing. Brookhaven Lab and Oklahoma State University scientists discovered the genes that control flowering time and modified plants to delay flowering. Credit: Kevin Coughlin/Brookhaven National Laboratory

When Plants Flower: Scientists ID Genes, Mechanism in Sorghum

By Isabel Agriculture, News, Plant Science

Scientists have identified key genes and the mechanism by which they control flowering in sorghum, an important bioenergy crop. The findings suggest strategies to delay sorghum flowering to maximize plant growth and the amount of biomass available for generating biofuels…

Mar 28

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Image: tomato plant. credit: 1195798 / Pixabay

The scent of resistance

By Isabel Agriculture, News

Tomato plants emit hexenyl butanoate (HB) to resist bacterial attacks independently of traditional hormones. HB protects against drought and diseases like Pseudomonas syringae in tomatoes and Phytophthora infestans in potatoes. This discovery offers sustainable solutions for crop protection and growth.

Mar 27

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Image: Keerti Rathore stands in his lab with ultra-low gossypol cotton plants that were created using RNA interference, a gene-silencing technique. Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Beth Luedeker

Natural tech for ‘dimming’ genes brings transformative potential to agriculture

By Isabel Agriculture, News, Plant Science

Advancements in RNA interference (RNAi) technology are revolutionizing agriculture, offering precise gene-silencing capabilities akin to dimming a light switch rather than turning it off completely like CRISPR. RNAi, a natural defense mechanism in organisms, enables targeted gene modification, enhancing crop…

Mar 26

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Image: Apple tree orchard. Credit: NoName_13 / Pixabay

Creepy crawlies protect apples when flowers planted on farms

By Isabel Agriculture, News

Bugs like hoverflies and ladybirds safeguard Britain's apples. Planting wildflowers around orchards creates homes for these beneficial insects, curbing apple damage by pests. Research suggests adding flower margins could boost apple harvests by 6.9%, reducing reliance on pesticides and promoting…

Mar 01

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Image: Weedy rice is an aggressive weed that outcompetes cultivated rice. Here, weedy rice is the lighter-colored grass that rises taller than the crop in a field in Thailand. Credit: Chanya Maneechote

Weedy rice gets competitive boost from its wild neighbors

By Isabel Agriculture, News

Weedy rice, a persistent agricultural pest resembling cultivated rice, thrives by hybridizing with wild rice in Southeast Asia, giving it a competitive edge. Genetic studies reveal diverse pathways to adaptation, complicating efforts to manage this costly weed. Farmers employ various…

Feb 28

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Image: wheat spikes. Credit: Hans / Pixabay

Researchers present new approach to identify key regulatory factors in wheat spike development

By Isabel Agriculture, News, Plant Science

A study unveils a novel approach to identify pivotal regulators in wheat spike development. By integrating omics and population genetics, researchers pinpoint 227 potential factors. Phenotypic screening of 61 genes led to 36 mutations, validating the method's efficacy.

Feb 12

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Image: Wheat field with trees in the background. Credit: Kai Pilger / Pixabay

Climate change: Fungal disease endangers wheat production

By Isabel Agriculture, Climate change, News

Climate change poses a threat to yields and food security worldwide, with plant diseases as one of the main risks. An international team of researchers has now shown that further spread of the fungal disease wheat blast could reduce global…

Feb 07

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New free database of weeds lets scientists peer into the past, and future, of global agriculture

By Isabel Agriculture, News, Plant Science

A groundbreaking weed database, comprising 928 species, offers insights into historical agricultural practices and the future of farming amid climate change, sheds light on ancient agricultural techniques and informs modern food system resilience.

Feb 06

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Image: Foxtail barley. Credit: 👀 Mabel Amber, who will one day / Pixabay

Researchers elucidate the variability and adaptability of internode elongation in barley

By Isabel Agriculture, News

Plant architecture arises from organogenesis and extension processes. Barley's main axis comprises repeating units called phytomers, each with organs and internodes. Researchers studied barley's phytomer initiation and elongation, identifying genetic factors affecting internode length. Shorter proximal internodes improve floral survival,…

Feb 05

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Image: Lima beans-flowers creamy white, beans edible. Credit: Yercaud-elango / Wikimedia

Domesticating plants impacts their microbiome, study finds

By Isabel Agriculture, News

New research reveals that human crop domestication alters plant-associated microorganism communities, with similar impacts across independently domesticated crops. The study suggests engineered plant microbiomes could enhance growth, stress tolerance, and disease resistance. Understanding these dynamics may improve crop yields and…

Agriculture

When Plants Flower: Scientists ID Genes, Mechanism in Sorghum

The scent of resistance

Natural tech for ‘dimming’ genes brings transformative potential to agriculture

Creepy crawlies protect apples when flowers planted on farms

Weedy rice gets competitive boost from its wild neighbors

Researchers present new approach to identify key regulatory factors in wheat spike development

Climate change: Fungal disease endangers wheat production

New free database of weeds lets scientists peer into the past, and future, of global agriculture

Researchers elucidate the variability and adaptability of internode elongation in barley

Domesticating plants impacts their microbiome, study finds

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