Sep 19

No one cares about the grass, but we should

By Isabel Botany, Climate change, News

Nature conservation policies are trying to safeguard forests all over the world, which is a good thing. But it seems like less-flashy ecosystems are getting left behind. Grassy ecosystems include grasslands, savannas, shrublands, woodlands and tundra. Experts say these ecosystems are…

Jul 21

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mycelium_of_arbuscular_mycorrhizal_fungi_with_false_color.png

Mysterious fungi: most of Earth’s climate-critical fungi are still unknown

By Isabel Botany, Plant Science

Mycorrhizal fungi help regulate Earth’s climate and ecosystems by forming underground networks that provide plants with essential nutrients, while drawing carbon deep into soils. Scientists and conservationists have been racing to find ways to protect these underground fungi, but they…

May 22

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Image: image of a grassland. Credit: Pixabay

New analysis sheds light on specific genes found in all grasses

By Isabel Botany, News, Plant Science

A new computational biology pipeline has mapped out over 13,000 groups of protein-coding genes conserved across grasses, offering a powerful tool for researchers investigating gene function in these economically and ecologically vital species.

May 15

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Striped tulips. Kerstin Riemer from Pixabay

Mathematicians solve centuries-old mystery of how ‘broken’ tulips get their stripes

By Isabel Botany, News, Plant Science

Researchers have found an answer to a centuries-old floral mystery, using a mathematical model to explain how striped tulips get their distinctive pattern.

Feb 27

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Image: Chicago botanic garden image. Credit: Pixabay, Free for use.

Botanic gardens must team up to save wild plants from extinction, say researchers

By Isabel Botany, News

Botanic gardens play a crucial role in conservation, especially with wild-collected plants, which support research and climate adaptation. Climate change threatens species survival, requiring a global network approach. Genetic diversity is key for resilience, and ethical plant collection is essential.…

Feb 24

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Image: A new study by a New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) scientist and her colleagues in Science finds that, of the three large-scale, plant-based climate mitigation strategies, reforestation stands out as most beneficial for biodiversity. In addition to reforestation (restoring forests in places where they have historically grown), the team of scientists modeled the impacts of afforestation (adding forests in places like grasslands and savannas) and bioenergy cropping (farming plants such as switchgrass for renewable energy) on more than 14,000 animal species. Credit: NYBG

Reforestation stands out among plant-based climate-mitigation strategies as most beneficial for wildlife biodiversity

By Isabel Botany, News, Plant Science

A new study finds that, of the three large-scale, plant-based climate mitigation strategies, reforestation stands out as most beneficial for biodiversity. In addition to reforestation (restoring forests in places where they have historically grown), the team of scientists modeled the…

Jan 23

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Image: A tall stalk with purple and pink flowers in a grassy field under a cloudy sky. Credit: University of California - Riverside

An inexpensive fix for struggling wildflowers

By Isabel Botany, Climate change, News, Plant Science

Raking dead grass (thatch) helps native plants grow by improving light access, according to a study. In three-year tests, raking increased plant diversity, reduced invasive grasses, and boosted wildflowers. While it also raised some invasive wildflowers, raking offers a low-cost,…

Dec 26

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Image: Plum blossom Prunus mume. Credit: Wikimedia

Decoding the cellular basis of floral fragrance

By Isabel Botany, News

Researchers have created the first single-cell gene expression map of Prunus mume petals. Using advanced RNA sequencing, they identified six cell types driving floral scent production, pinpointing key genes like PmBAHD3. This breakthrough enhances understanding of fragrance biosynthesis, offering potential…

Dec 23

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Image credit: Researchers work in the Biotron, a research facility that can simulate nearly any climate on earth. The trees grown here were studied for this project. Credit: Michigan State University/Mitchell Zimmer

Researchers find trees acclimate to changing temperatures

By Isabel Botany, News, Plant Science

Researchers studied how paper birch trees adapt to climate change by analyzing photorespiration, a critical metabolic process. They found that trees maintain excess enzyme capacity, providing a buffer to environmental shifts. This resilience offers hope for forests under changing climate…

Dec 11

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Image: Image shows a heatmap of the corpse flower when it blooms, with the central appendix heating up to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit above ambient temperature. Credit: of Eric Schaller

Secrets of the Corpse Flower Revealed

By Isabel Botany, News, Plant Science

The corpse flower’s rare, short-lived blooms emit a pungent scent to attract pollinators, fueled by heat from its spadix. Researchers uncovered genes driving heat and odor production, linking sulfur metabolism and amino acids like methionine and putrescine to its smell.…

Botany

No one cares about the grass, but we should

Mysterious fungi: most of Earth’s climate-critical fungi are still unknown

New analysis sheds light on specific genes found in all grasses

Mathematicians solve centuries-old mystery of how ‘broken’ tulips get their stripes

Botanic gardens must team up to save wild plants from extinction, say researchers

Reforestation stands out among plant-based climate-mitigation strategies as most beneficial for wildlife biodiversity

An inexpensive fix for struggling wildflowers

Decoding the cellular basis of floral fragrance

Researchers find trees acclimate to changing temperatures

Secrets of the Corpse Flower Revealed

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