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.
Scientists discovered how the pathogen Phytophthora infestans weakens plant immunity by targeting the chloroplast protein StFC-II in potatoes. The pathogen’s effector Pi22922 stabilizes StFC-II, disrupting chloroplast function and reducing the plant’s immune response. This finding offers insights into enhancing crop resistance through targeted gene-editing techniques.
A new framework for climate event attribution, combines qualitative physics, quantitative methods, and local knowledge to trace climate change’s role in extreme events. This approach can guide the swift, ethical allocation of funds to developing nations facing climate-related loss and damage, despite uncertainties.
Researchers have uncovered the gene LcSVP2 as a key regulator of dormancy in lychee, an evergreen tree. This gene controls when buds rest and also represses flowering. Understanding LcSVP2’s dual role could improve crop management, boosting lychee yields and sustainability in tropical agriculture.
Researchers engineered walnut rootstocks to combat drought. By modifying the JrGA20ox1 gene, they improved drought tolerance in grafted trees. Scions grafted onto gene-suppressed rootstocks retained more chlorophyll and experienced less oxidative stress under drought conditions. This study highlights rootstock modifications as a promising strategy for enhancing crop resilience.
Researchers have uncovered genetic changes behind the timing of plants’ transition from leaf growth to reproduction, akin to “puberty.” This discovery reveals variations in developmental timing even under identical conditions. Understanding these genetic factors could enhance crop uniformity and nutrition, benefiting farmers and consumers alike.
Researchers discovered female-only populations of brown algae, called “Amazons,” that reproduce asexually through parthenogenesis. These algae thrive without males, losing traits like pheromone production and evolving larger gametes. The study offers insights into the genetic and phenotypic changes during the shift from sexual to asexual reproduction.
