Plant Science Archives - Page 21 of 90 - The Global Plant Council

Oct 16

The cloning of the first genic dominant male sterility gene in rice may revolutionize breeding processes

By Isabel Agriculture, News, Plant Science

Male sterility in plants enhances breeding and hybrid crop production. The elusive Sanming Dominant Genic Male Sterile (SDGMS) Rice, discovered in 2001, offered stable male sterility. Scientists recently unraveled the SDGMS gene's mechanism. They found that in sterile plants, a…

Oct 13

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Image: Comparison of wild-type growing root hairs (left) and the BUZZ mutant with little root hair nubs, as seen through a scanning electron microscope. Credit: Karen Sanguinet, Washington State University

Gene required for root hair growth, nitrate foraging found in grasses

By Isabel News, Plant Science

Scientists have found a plant gene that drives the growth of root hairs, the tiny structures that help plants find water and nutrients in the soil. The gene, dubbed “BUZZ,” causes faster-growing, denser webs of roots and may also determine how…

Oct 12

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Image: Red foxglove Digitalis purpurea (left), native to Germany, and the rubber tree Calotropis procera(right), native to northern part of Africa, were chosen for the study. Both species produce high levels of cardenolides, although they belong to different plant families. Comparative analyses based on genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic data helped to identify the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of pregnenolone. Credit: Angela Overmeyer

Researchers study the formation of cardenolides in plants

By Isabel News, Plant Science

Researchers identify the first enzymatic step in the biosynthesis of these plant steroids important in the medical treatment of heart disease.

Oct 05

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Image: Rice field image. Credit: Pixabay

Disease-resistant plants may modulate disease susceptibility in their neighbors

By Isabel Agriculture, News, Plant Science

Researchers discovered a form of social immunity in wheat and rice. Disease susceptibility in wheat and rice is modulated not only by genetic resistance traits, but also by interactions with neighbouring plants of the same species. The findings, show that…

Oct 02

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a lone tree in a green field with clouds

How trees influence cloud formation

By Isabel Climate change, News, Plant Science

Researchers have identified sesquiterpenes – gaseous hydrocarbons that are released by plants – as being a major factor in cloud formation. This finding could reduce uncertainties in climate models and help make more accurate predictions.

Sep 27

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Image: A 3D image of nasturtium xyloglucan xyloglucosyl transferase with bound substrate reactants. Credit: University of Adelaide

Engineering of plant cell wall modifying enzymes opens new horizons

By Isabel News, Plant Science

A newly discovered way of optimising plant enzymes through bioengineering has increased knowledge of how plant material can be converted into biofuels, biochemicals and other high-value products.

Sep 26

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Image: Mosses and other plant species, grow together next to a stream. Credit: geonjin kim / Pixabay

Research sheds surprising new light on evolution of plant kingdom

By Isabel News, Plant Science

A new study has uncovered intriguing insights into the evolution of plant biology, effectively rewriting the history of how they evolved over the past billion years.

Sep 22

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Rafflesia banaoana. Credit: Chris Thorogood

Researchers issue urgent call to save the world’s largest flower -Rafflesia – from extinction

By Isabel Botany, News, Plant Science

An international group of scientists has issued an urgent call for coordinated action to save the iconic genus Rafflesia, which contains the world’s largest flowers. This follows a new study which found that most of the 42 species are severely…

Sep 21

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Microscope image of one of the closest algal relatives of land plants, a single-celled alga called Mesotaenium endlicherianum (20 micrometres corresponds to 0.02 millimetres). Credit: Tatyana Darienko

Algae provide clues about 600 million years of plant evolution

By Isabel News, Plant Science

The Earth's surface is covered by plants. They make up the majority of biomass on land and exhibit a wide range of diversity, from mosses to trees. This astounding biodiversity came into existence due to a fateful evolutionary event that…

Sep 20

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Examples of species that may be ambophilous and that require field experiments to resolve the predominant pollen vector in their natural habitat. (A) The pendulous inflorescences (spikes) of Tetracentron sinense (Trochodendraceae) suggest wind pollination, but the stamens' filaments produce nectar drops (arrow in the insert panel in A). (B) Honeybee collecting nectar and the sticky pollen from the catkins of Salix matsudana (Salicaceae). The inset shows an orange-yellow nectary (arrow) attached to the ovary. (C) A lavatory fly feeding on the liquid offered by the male flowers of Castanea mollissima (Fagaceae). (D) A mosquito collecting nectar from a green female flower of Helwingia japonica (Helwingiaceae); its head carries white pollen from a previously visited male plant. (E) An inflorescence of the dioecious Sargentodoxa cuneata (Lardizabalaceae); the inset shows the yellow greenish petals (white arrow). (F) Female flowers of the gynodioecious Thalictrum smithii (Ranunculaceae) without sepals, typical of wind pollination. (G) A bumblebee collecting pollen from a hermaphroditic flower of Thalictrum delavayi. (H) A halictid bee collecting pollen from white-flowered Juncus allioides (Juncaceae); the inset shows pollen tetrads (arrow) germinating on a stigma. (I) Sticky pollen grains presented on the dehisced anthers of Paris polyphylla (Melanthiaceae). Credit: Shuang-Quan Huang

90% of flowering plant species found to rely on animal pollinators

By Isabel Botany, News, Plant Science

Pollen of flowering plants can be dispersed by animals, wind or even by water. In assessing pollination modes, a fundamental question is how many flowering plants are pollinated by animals. Although the question has been raised previously, an accurate estimation…

Plant Science

The cloning of the first genic dominant male sterility gene in rice may revolutionize breeding processes

Gene required for root hair growth, nitrate foraging found in grasses

Researchers study the formation of cardenolides in plants

Disease-resistant plants may modulate disease susceptibility in their neighbors

How trees influence cloud formation

Engineering of plant cell wall modifying enzymes opens new horizons

Research sheds surprising new light on evolution of plant kingdom

Researchers issue urgent call to save the world’s largest flower -Rafflesia – from extinction

Algae provide clues about 600 million years of plant evolution

90% of flowering plant species found to rely on animal pollinators

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