Breeding a better chickpea
Chickpeas are an important crop and food in India. They are used almost every day in meals and snacks. India is the largest producer, consumer, and importer of chickpeas. And with good reason—they are high in protein, fiber, and vitamins and minera.....»»
A tool to improve plant breeding
In his nearly eight years working in the peanut breeding and genetics sectors, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology faculty investigator Josh Clevenger, Ph.D., has grown passionate about improving crops for more robust and sustainable agriculture......»»
Smart water tank to improve platypus breeding odds
Water authorities will be turning to Melburnians to help with a novel system of 'smart' rainwater tanks and urban lakes that can provide crucial water to support platypus habitat when it's most needed—just before the breeding season......»»
Older males come out on top in battle of the breeding mosquitofish
It turns out age is no barrier when it comes to reproducing—well, at least for one type of fish......»»
Researchers identify a gene that regulates the angle of root growth in corn
The discovery of a gene that regulates the angle of root growth in corn is a new tool to enable the breeding of deeper-rooting crops with enhanced ability to take up nitrogen, according to an international team of researchers, led by Penn State......»»
In Spain, Iberian lynx claws back from brink of extinction
At a nature reserve in southern Spain, four baby Iberian lynxes sleep peacefully beside their mother, part of a captive breeding programme that has brought the species back from the brink of extinction......»»
Plant root–associated bacteria preferentially colonize their native host-plant roots
An international team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research and the University of Aarhus in Denmark have discovered that bacteria from the plant microbiota are adapted to their host species. In a newly published stu.....»»
Sweet success: First precision breeding of sugarcane with CRISPR-Cas9
Sugarcane is one of the most productive plants on Earth, providing 80 percent of the sugar and 30 percent of the bioethanol produced worldwide. Its size and efficient use of water and light give it tremendous potential for the production of renewable.....»»
Common breeding birds are doing better in the Netherlands than in Europe
On average, Dutch breeding birds have become more numerous in the period 1980-2010. The common species have even done better than birds in other European countries. Farmland birds are an exception: they declined sharply both in the Netherlands and el.....»»
Male dragonflies lose their "bling" in hotter climates
A study published the week of July 5 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences led by Michael Moore at Washington University in St. Louis finds that dragonfly males have consistently evolved less breeding coloration in regions with hotte.....»»
Which Crops Can Survive Drought? Nanosensors May Offer Clues
The technique can be used to track how water flows through plants—which could be key to breeding more resilient crops in an increasingly hot, dry climate......»»
New approach can add diversity to crop species without breeding GMOs
Breeding better crops through genetic engineering has been possible for decades, but the use of genetically modified plants has been limited by technical challenges and popular controversies. A new approach potentially solves both of those problems b.....»»
China to pause squid fishing in Pacific, Atlantic breeding grounds
China has announced a temporary ban on its fishing fleet—the world's biggest—from catching squid in parts of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans after overfishing pushed populations to the brink of collapse......»»
Molecular breeding can make better bitter olives
Olives, well-known for their characteristic bitter taste, are in high demand owing to the popularity of the oil they produce. The health benefits of olive oil are well known, ranging from antiviral, anti-cancer, to even anti-hypertensive effects. The.....»»
Urbanization drives antibiotic resistance on microplastics in Chinese river
Microplastic pollution of waterways has become a huge concern, with the tiny pieces of plastic entering food webs and potentially having harmful effects on animals and people. In addition, microplastics can act as breeding grounds for antibiotic-resi.....»»
Infrared imaging leaves invasive pythons nowhere to hide
For more than 25 years, Burmese pythons have been living and breeding in the Florida Everglades, where they prey on native wildlife and disrupt the region's delicate ecosystems. A new study shows that infrared cameras could make it easier to spot the.....»»
DNA found in poop helps scientists learn about secretive fox
There's an elusive fox roaming the southern Sierra Nevada, and experts are trying to learn more about its behavior and breeding success by analyzing one of the few traces of its presence—poop......»»
French "bug farm" thrives on demand for pesticide-free fruit
Farmers in western France are doubling down on an unusual crop: breeding millions of tiny predatory bugs and wasps to protect tomato plants without resorting to the insecticides that consumers are shunning......»»
Unravelling the mysteries of seasonal reproduction in lynx: New insights into mechanisms of corpus luteum in cats
Most of the existing 39 cat species are threatened. Successful reproduction under breeding conditions is hindered by a lack of knowledge and appropriate techniques. But now scientists from the German Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (L.....»»
Seabirds face dire threats from climate change, human activity—especially in Northern Hemisphere
Many seabirds in the Northern Hemisphere are struggling to breed—and in the Southern Hemisphere, they may not be far behind. These are the conclusions of a study, published May 28 in Science, analyzing more than 50 years of breeding records for 67.....»»
Wheat hybrid necrosis gene Ne2 provides leaf rust resistance and valuable for breeding new cultivars
Leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks. (Pt) is a destructive foliar disease that threatens world wheat production. Breeding and deployment of resistant cultivars are the most profitable and environmental friendly method to prevent disease loss.....»»