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plant science Archives - The Global Plant Council

The secret lives of roots: Tropical forest root systems are central to understanding the carbon stock change

By | Forestry, News

Tropical forest roots play a crucial role in climate change dynamics, yet they’re often overlooked. New research highlights the significance of understanding root function in tropical ecosystems. By integrating this knowledge into vegetation models, scientists aim to improve predictions of carbon stock changes, essential for mitigating climate impacts.

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Image: Syntrichia ruralis moss. Credit: Jenna T. B. Ekwealor

Drying Without Dying: Tracing Water Scarcity Coping Mechanisms from Mosses to Flowering Plants

By | Botany, News, Plant Science

In a groundbreaking study, researchers unravel the evolutionary secrets behind plants’ ability to survive harsh drought conditions. Exploring moss resilience mechanisms, akin to crop seed dormancy, sheds light on a 450-million-year-old adaptation. Insights could revolutionize crop resilience amidst climate change, offering hope for a greener future.

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Image: Leaf with herbivores. Credit: Lisa Hülsmann

Overcrowding increases tree mortality, perhaps explaining higher biodiversity in tropical forests

By | Forestry, News, Plant Science

New research reveals that tree mortality increases with overcrowding, especially in tropical forests. The study, involving 52 scientists worldwide, suggests specialized pathogens or herbivores as culprits. These findings shed light on why tropical forests harbor more species and underscore the importance of long-term forest studies for biodiversity conservation.

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Orchids are one of the most species-rich families of flowering plants, rivalled only by the daisy family (Asteraceae). Pictured: Lepanthes cassicula. Credit: Oscar Perez, RBG Kew

Study shows orchid family emerged in northern hemisphere and thrived alongside dinosaurs for 20 million years

By | News, Plant Science

New research unveils orchid family’s 85-million-year-old origin on Laurasia, thriving with dinosaurs. Recent diversity explosion suggests speciation secrets crucial for conservation. Insights from scientists urge protection of these biodiversity gems amidst alarming extinction rates. Orchids, vital evolutionary enigmas, hold keys to Earth’s ecological tapestry.

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Image: Weedy rice is an aggressive weed that outcompetes cultivated rice. Here, weedy rice is the lighter-colored grass that rises taller than the crop in a field in Thailand. Credit: Chanya Maneechote

Weedy rice gets competitive boost from its wild neighbors

By | Agriculture, News

Weedy rice, a persistent agricultural pest resembling cultivated rice, thrives by hybridizing with wild rice in Southeast Asia, giving it a competitive edge. Genetic studies reveal diverse pathways to adaptation, complicating efforts to manage this costly weed. Farmers employ various methods, yet weedy rice’s adaptability poses ongoing challenges to rice cultivation.

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Image: Doñana Park. Credit: Anne and Saturnino Miranda en Pixabay

Climate change has brought forward the flowering period in Doñana National Park by 22 days, finds study

By | Climate change, News, Plant Science

Climate change has advanced flowering in Doñana National Park by 22 days, as researchers discovered. Over 35 years, rising temperatures shifted peak flowering from May 9th to April 17th. This alters plant interactions, impacting pollinators and ecosystem dynamics, highlighting climate’s profound effects on biodiversity and the environment.

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