Plant Science

Maize plants form special compounds derived from indole, the so-called benzoxazinoids. They are considered ecologically important because they act against a wide range of herbivores and reduce their feeding. Benzoxazinoids also exhibit antimicrobial properties and are thought to be involved…

Grasses transfer genes from their neighbours in the same way genetically modified crops are made, a new study has revealed. 

Scientists have revealed new plant cell walls can have significantly different mechanical properties compared to surrounding parental cell walls, enabling cells to change their local shape and influence the growth of plant organs.

Plants that rely on animal pollinators, such as insects or birds, have evolved distinctive suites of flower characteristics—known as "pollination syndromes"—that are tailored to the pollinator. Large differences in flower characteristics between wildflowers with different pollinators are achieved by a…

Imagine if humans could ‘talk’ to plants and warn them of approaching pest attacks or extreme weather. A team of plant scientists would like to turn this science fiction into reality using light-based messaging to ‘talk’ to plants