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Image: While wildflowers and perennials are a must for supporting pollinators, there’s no denying the popularity of many annual flowers for their colorful, visual appeal. A new study suggests choosing the right varieties can give annual flowers a role in nourishing bees and other pollinating insects in home gardens. In the two-year study, researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) observed pollinators visiting 25 different varieties, or cultivars, of the six most popular annual flower species in the United States, finding significant variation in apparent pollinator attractiveness between cultivars, even within the same flower species. Here, mixed groups of the flowers grow at the MSU Horticulture Farm in June 2017. Credit: David Smitley, Ph.D.)

News Plant Science

Some Varieties of Annual Flowers Have a Place in Pollinator-Friendly Gardens

Annual flowers, typically considered poor for pollinators, can support bees and insects if the right varieties are chosen. A study found significant variation in pollinator attractiveness among 25 cultivars of popular annuals like begonias and impatiens. This research highlights the…

Isabel13/06/2024

Image credit: plantlet tray. Alexey Hulsov / Pixabay

Agriculture Climate change News

Scientists unlock key to breeding ‘carbon gobbling’ plants with a major appetite

Scientists have uncovered how the enzyme carboxysomal carbonic anhydrase (CsoSCA) works in cyanobacteria. This discovery could lead to engineering crops that capture carbon dioxide more efficiently, boosting yields and resilience to climate change.

Isabel12/06/2024

Image: Climate action protest. Credit: Dominic Wunderlich / Pixabay

Climate change News

Study: While most of the world trusts climate scientists, a skeptical minority can lead to climate inaction

A study reveals that while most people trust climate scientists, a skeptical minority can impede climate action. Researchers stress that even minority distrust can have significant political consequences, emphasizing the need for scientists to maintain credibility and transparency to bolster…

Isabel11/06/2024

Image: Two images of a wheat spike. The top image is a spike from an alog1 mutant, with additional spikelets highlighted in pink. The bottom image is a normal spike from a plant without the edited gene. Credit: University of Adelaide

Agriculture News Plant Science

Gene could unlock big wheat yields for a growing population

Researchers identified molecular pathways regulated by the Photoperiod-1 (Ppd-1) gene to boost wheat yields. By editing the ALOG1 transcription factor, they increased branching in wheat and barley, potentially enhancing grain yield. Field trials are underway to test these gene-edited lines,…

Isabel10/06/2024

Image: Georgia Tech researchers surveying field sites in the salt marshes of Sapelo Island, Georgia. Credit: Georgia Tech

News Plant Health

From Roots to Resilience: Investigating the Vital Role of Microbes in Coastal Plant Health

Biologists uncovered crucial microbial processes in Georgia's saltwater marshes. Their study reveals that bacteria in cordgrass roots detoxify sulfides and fix nitrogen, boosting plant health and resilience. These findings, facilitated by advanced genomic technology, underscore the vital role of microbes…

Isabel07/06/2024

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Some Varieties of Annual Flowers Have a Place in Pollinator-Friendly Gardens

Scientists unlock key to breeding ‘carbon gobbling’ plants with a major appetite

Study: While most of the world trusts climate scientists, a skeptical minority can lead to climate inaction

Gene could unlock big wheat yields for a growing population

From Roots to Resilience: Investigating the Vital Role of Microbes in Coastal Plant Health

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