Roots are normally associated with things that live underground, in the damp and the dark. Think of turnips, radishes and yams. However, many plants make their roots above ground. Ivy uses its roots to climb on buildings and the mighty ficus tree uses them to support their large branches. What makes plants form roots in the “wrong place,” so to speak? That would be like us humans sprouting legs from our shoulders.
Massive study of the relationships among grasses provides insight to the evolution of a type of photosynthesis involved in heat and drought tolerance.
The whole genome of 628 wild and cultivated plants have been analyzed to unravel some details of the complex American tomato history.
A study shows that growing carp, mitten crabs, or softshell turtles in rice paddies could help farmers produce food in a more sustainable way.
Local and Indigenous communities warn of a significant decrease in the abundance of wild edible plants and mushrooms that negatively impacts their nutrition and food security, from local to global scales.
Research team shows potential for sustainable land use in Madagascar the most important country for vanilla production – the fragrant ingredient that is a favourite flavour for ice cream, cakes and cookies.
We typically think of plants strutting their best stuff aboveground: showy flowers, fragrant blossoms, and unique shapes abound. But their development belowground is equally magical. In a new study, a team of international scientists, dug deep to better understand one of the most extraordinary root systems in the world.
Scientists observed that ergot, a common plant disease on rye, defended its host plant chemically against grass feeding insects. The ergot disease in grains spoils the yield and causes seed loss to the plant. Based on this, it is classified as harmful from the human perspective. A new study states that the ergot appears to be a beneficial protector for its host plant capable of even increasing plant fitness.
More extense use of existing genetically modified crops in Europe could reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers examine the formation of air channels in wetland plants, a protective trait that makes them resilient to environmental stresses.
