Flowers like hibiscus use a hidden, early-stage “paint by numbers” system to form petal bullseyes, which attract pollinators like bees. Research reveals bees favor larger bullseyes, boosting pollination efficiency by 25%. Understanding these patterns’ development aids in exploring plant evolution and biodiversity creation mechanisms.
New research highlights how a balanced microbiome within plants is crucial for their immune systems. Disruptions to this balance can trigger autoimmune-like responses, where plants mistakenly attack their own tissues. This discovery could lead to innovations in crop protection by leveraging beneficial microbes to support plant health and combat pathogens.
Researchers uncovered new insights into epigenetic regulation in flowering plants. They found that the protein SDG7 competes with PRC2, a known gene silencer, by marking DNA with H3K36 methylation, which activates genes. This discovery helps explain how plants can dynamically switch gene expression on or off, impacting plant development.
Researchers emphasize the crucial role of herbarium collections in supporting biodiversity conservation. They advocate for increased funding to herbaria, which face financial threats, citing their effectiveness in generating high-quality, unbiased biodiversity data. While citizen science contributes, herbarium specimens provide a more accurate record of Canada’s plant diversity and distribution, aiding conservation goals.
A project engages Parisian volunteers to collect tree bark, using it as a natural sensor to monitor traffic pollution. By analyzing magnetic particles on plane tree bark, researchers create detailed maps of air quality, offering insights into local pollution patterns and contributing valuable data for urban planning and environmental policy.
Researchers have developed an eco-friendly super-lubricant from potato proteins, achieving near-zero friction by mimicking natural joint lubrication. This plant-based material offers a sustainable alternative to oil-based lubricants, with potential applications in biomedical fields, such as artificial joint fluids, and in engineering for greener solutions.
Researchers have uncovered a 53-million-year-old polar forest in western Tasmania, revealing the ancestral origins of modern tropical plants. The fossils, including new conifer species, highlight how rainforests thrived near the South Pole during the early Eocene’s warm climate. This discovery deepens our understanding of plant evolution and Earth’s climatic history.
Oxidation of gases emitted by vegetation fire smoke forms abundant ultrafine particles that may intensify deep clouds and heavy rain in the Amazon rainforest
Nanoplastics, absorbed by tree roots, can impair photosynthesis in both spruce and deciduous trees, leading to stress responses. Researchers found nanoplastics reduce photosynthesis efficiency by up to 33% in some species. Though short-term effects showed no impact on growth, the long-term consequences remain unclear.
Researchershave developed optogenetic tobacco plants to study plant signaling pathways. Using light-activated ion channels, they discovered that membrane depolarization, not calcium influx, triggers key plant responses to stress, like drought. This breakthrough enables a deeper understanding of plant defense mechanisms, marking a new era in plant research.
