How do plants hedge their bets?
In some environments there is no way for a seed to know for sure when the best time to germinate is......»»
Streetlights running all night makes leaves so tough that insects can"t eat them, threatening the food chain
Light pollution disrupts circadian rhythms and ecosystems worldwide—but for plants, dependent on light for photosynthesis, its effects could be profound. Now scientists writing in Frontiers in Plant Science have found that exposure to high levels o.....»»
New research sheds light on relationships between plants and insects in forest ecosystems
U.S. Forest Service researchers and partners published new findings on how leaf-eating insects affect forest ecosystems worldwide......»»
Experiment on photosynthesis is heading to the space station to explore effects of microgravity
An experiment aimed at learning more about how plants grow in space will be aboard a National Aeronautics and Space Administration launch in early August from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida......»»
The effects of whole genome duplication on the plant metabolome
Whole genome duplication (WGD) is a common mutation in plants with profound evolutionary potential. While it is well-known that an increase in genetic material can lead to larger cell sizes, the impact of gene dosage multiplication on the metabolome.....»»
Getting to the root of a plant"s success
Plants are powerful factories—they can turn basic ingredients like carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight into oxygen, sugars, and plant mass. But plants don't do all of this work on their own......»»
Stem cell harmony: How solanaceae plants maintain homeostasis through receptor compensation
A pivotal study sheds light on the evolutionary conservation of stem cell homeostasis in Solanaceae, revealing how receptor compensation mechanisms ensure the continuous and orderly formation of plant organs. This research uncovers the genetic interp.....»»
Air pollution makes it harder for bees to smell flowers
Contaminants can alter plant odors and warp insects’ senses, disrupting the process of pollination. Scientists are uncovering various ways that air pollution can interfere with the ability of insects to pollinate plants. (credi.....»»
Unlocking glucosinolates" potential: Enhancing nutrition and stress tolerance in Brassica crops
A research team has reviewed the potential of glucosinolates, compounds found in Brassicaceae plants like cabbage and broccoli, to enhance stress tolerance and provide health benefits through their hydrolysis products......»»
Plants" hidden allies: Root microbiota fight back against leaf-mining flies
Plants encounter various biotic stresses, with insect herbivory being particularly destructive. Traditional chemical insecticides used to combat these pests pose environmental and health risks......»»
Ensuring quality in tropical vegetables: Addressing chilling injury through antioxidant systems
A research team has found that optimal storage temperatures are crucial for preserving vegetables' quality, with tropical plants particularly susceptible to low temperatures, leading to a "chilling injury" (CI) condition......»»
Top 5 stories of the week: Toyota engine recall; Stellantis CEO calls out U.S. plants
A quick look at the top automotive stories of the week as determined by reader interest......»»
US solar production soars by 25 percent in just one year
2024 is seeing the inevitable outcome of the building boom in solar farms. Enlarge (credit: Vithun Khamsong) With the plunging price of photovoltaics, the construction of solar plants has boomed in the US. Last year, for.....»»
Polluted Lakes Are Being Cleansed Using Floating Wetlands Made of Trash
Platforms combining plants and recycled garbage could offer a cut-price solution for reviving polluted bodies of water......»»
Non-native species are threatening vulnerable Svalbard plant life, study warns
New, non-native plant species are constantly being found in Svalbard, and researchers are working to ascertain what threat these species pose to the native plants......»»
Stellantis CEO Tavares: U.S. plants building too many vehicles that need rework
Shipments of the Ram 1500 and other vehicles have been slowed by problems that need to be repaired after they come off the assembly line......»»
Boosting plant health: The role of gene exchange with bacteria
A recent study has unveiled how plants and bacteria exchange genes to boost plant health and development. The team discovered 75 genes that were transferred between small, fast-growing plants (Arabidopsis thaliana) and its bacterial companions, influ.....»»
Appeals Court denies stay to states trying to block EPA’s carbon limits
The EPA's plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants can go ahead. Enlarge (credit: Bernhardt Lang) On Friday, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit denied a request to put a hold on recently formulated rules th.....»»
EPA’s new power plant emissions rules survive first attempt to kill them
The EPA's plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants can go ahead. Enlarge (credit: Bernhardt Lang) On Friday, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit denied a request to put a hold on recently formulated rules th.....»»
Elevated levels of antibiotic resistance genes should be considered a new factor of global change, researchers say
Human-caused global change is a complex phenomenon comprising many factors such as climate change, environmental contamination with chemicals, microplastics, light pollution, and invasive plants. One of the main tasks of global change biology is to i.....»»
MicroRNA study sets stage for crop improvements
MicroRNAs can make plants more capable of withstanding drought, salinity, pathogens and more. However, in a study published in Nature Plants, Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists show just how much we didn't know about the intricate processes plant.....»»