A new study highlights how increasing aridity reduces plant species richness in drylands, with extreme droughts amplifying this effect. Using a seven-year experiment, researchers found that while rainfall boosts diversity, dominant species can obscure this relationship. These insights improve biodiversity forecasts, crucial for conservation as climate change intensifies water availability shifts.
A new study finds that, of the three large-scale, plant-based climate mitigation strategies, reforestation stands out as most beneficial for biodiversity. In addition to reforestation (restoring forests in places where they have historically grown), the team of scientists modeled the impacts of afforestation (adding forests in places like grasslands and savannas) and bioenergy cropping (farming plants such as switchgrass for renewable energy) on more than 14,000 animal species.
Orphan crops, as the name implies, are often ignored. Yet, they have great potential to improve global food security. These underutilised plants, primarily grown in Africa, Asia, and South America, are staples in local diets but receive minimal attention in modern agriculture. Due to limited research and breeding advancements, they remain vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Septoria tritici blotch, caused by Zymoseptoria tritici, threatens wheat production. Researchers and breeders, studied 285 elite French wheat varieties, identifying 57 resistance QTLs and at least 11 known Stb genes. Their findings aid breeding for resistance and support the future meta-analysis.
ASPB Reaffirms Its Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Originally published on the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) website. Republished with permission.
Statement from ASPB’s Board of Directors, February 11, 2025 – Along with many others, we have done our best to absorb the deluge of executive actions that have taken place over the past few weeks. We recognize the harm they are causing to both individuals and institutions, as well as the cascading impact they have on the plant biology workforce and, by extension, our nation’s capacity to remain at the forefront of plant science research globally. During this taxing time, we have carefully considered what these executive actions mean – both for ASPB and our commitments to diversity and inclusion and for the community of plant scientists that we exist to serve and support. We took this time to reflect on the path ahead and how the decisions we make in the short term might impact the Society’s ability to continue advancing our mission without compromising our values. Throughout those conversations one thing has remained consistent: ASPB is invested in doing what is right for our community and our employees. The Society remains committed to robustly supporting and strongly advocating for diversity and inclusion in the plant sciences, period.
What does that mean for the ASPB community? Among other things, you can expect that we will continue to support travel awards, funding opportunities, and Plant Biology conference sessions with an aim toward including all people. You can expect that ASPB will continue to strive to become ever more welcoming and inclusive to all, and to continue to develop and refine a strategic plan for the Society that sources from diverse backgrounds and features inclusion of all as a core tenet of that plan. You can also expect that ASPB will continue to recognize and celebrate our community including, for example, during Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride Month, and those recognizing people of Hispanic and Indigenous descent who have historically and who continue to contribute to plant biology. We will observe Juneteenth; and we will continue to value the commitment, diverse backgrounds and expertise of our employees, who work every day to support our mission and uphold our values.
We will navigate these times carefully, offer continued guidance and support to plant biologists when possible, and advocate fiercely for plant biology research, leveraging the expertise of our legislative affairs consultants at Lewis-Burke Associates to identify the most impactful ways to do so – including a direct ask for your help in the coming days. We will continue to engage with sibling associations across the STEM space, joining with others on specific legislative actions when it makes sense to do so. We will strive to nurture the diverse community of scientists who have driven this field forward for the past 100 years, and who will continue to do so for the next 100 years and more. And above all, we will keep fostering a sense of community – a place where you can weather the storm and still be your whole self. While we do this, we would urge you all to take care of the people around you as well as yourselves.
Read the orginal here.
Researchers discovered that different photoreceptors control distinct regions of a seedling’s stem. The photoreceptor cry1 reserves energy for later elongation, helping plants reemerge if buried. Using machine learning and genetic editing, the team’s findings could inform crop innovation, making plants more resilient and improving agricultural success.
Pollinators boost both crop yield and quality, yet their species-specific behavior and crop distribution patterns are often overlooked. Researchers stress the need to enhance cross-pollination to improve nutrient content. Optimizing landscape design and plant variety interactions can maximize benefits for both agriculture and consumer health.
Scientists purified a bacterial enzyme to study its role in plant immunity suppression. Their findings suggest soil bacteria use similar enzymes to either aid plant growth or help pathogens evade detection. Understanding this balance could inform agricultural applications, ensuring plants grow efficiently without compromising disease resistance.
Scientists have successfully increased protein content in crops, even under high CO₂ conditions, by enhancing the serine biosynthesis pathway through genetic engineering. This breakthrough improves plant nutrition, reduces reliance on resource-intensive animal products, and supports sustainable diets. The research, involving European institutions, could revolutionize food security and environmental sustainability.
Scientists have uncovered a genetic mechanism in walnuts and their ancestors that has remained stable for 40 million years. Male-first or female-first flowering, balanced by a single genetic locus, parallels sex determination in animals. This evolutionary trait ensures genetic diversity, with distinct pathways evolving independently in walnuts and pecans.
