Researchers study the effect of boosting photosynthetic processes at the canopy level and if it could increase yields
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants absorb sunlight, water and carbon dioxide and convert them to oxygen and energy in the form of sugar. It gives plants the means to grow and produce food. A team of scientists from the University of Illinois has modelled a way to improve photosynthesis and increase soybean growth […] Read moreStories by Freelance writer
Sask. town hosts filming of new Heritage Minute
Video profiles Mary ‘Bonnie’ Baker, one of 64 Canadian women to play in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Historica Canada is bringing the story of Regina’s Mary “Bonnie” Baker to the big screen in an all-new Heritage Minute filmed in Ogema, Sask. Filming took place on June 8-9 with community members filling in as extras and the town providing the venues and accommodations. “Maybe the best and most accommodating location I have ever […] Read more
Sunflower pollen linked to bumble bee health
Researchers have determined that the tiny spines on sunflower pollen grains significantly reduce parasite infection
Sunflowers, along with more than 180,000 different plant species and more than 1,200 crops, rely on insect pollinators that contribute more than $200 billion in annual ecosystem services globally. At the dinner table, one-third of our food is thanks to the role of pollinating insects.
Gene discovered that plays role in triggering fruit growth
Researchers say it’s important to understand this fertilization process because many food crops are derived from flowers
“Understanding this process (of fertilization) is especially important because common food crops such as peanuts, corn, rice and strawberries are all derived from flowers,” said Zhongchi Liu, professor in the department of cell biology and molecular genetics. “Knowing how plants decide to turn part of their flowers into fruit and seed is crucial to agriculture and our food supply.”
Failed antibiotic repurposed as successful herbicide
With modifications, a molecule initially developed to treat tuberculosis but failed to get beyond the research lab showed an ability to kill two of the most problematic weeds in Australia, annual ryegrass and wild radish, without harming bacterial and human cells.
Soil microbes can influence ‘forever chemicals’
Some types of chemicals can leach from fertilizers made from recycled waste with the help of microbial decomposition
The problem with forever chemicals is exactly that — they don’t go away and they persist in the environment. Now, researchers at Drexel University in Philadelphia have found that soil microbes appear to support the release of these chemicals, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), into the environment and across croplands. “What happens is […] Read more
Spiders can pay significant dividends in pest control
New University of Alberta research has found that a healthy population plays an important role in pest management
A study, in its final stages of data analysis, carried out by Carol Frost, an assistant professor of conservation biology at the University of Alberta, is showing the importance of a healthy spider population in pest management.
Hardy saltwater grass may unlock crop yields
Learning how seashore paspalum grows under stressful conditions may lead to crops that yield more with less fertilizer
Scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have researched the grass species seashore paspalum’s genome and gene expression to learn how it can grow so efficiently in such stressful conditions. The results offer opportunities to grow crops that yield more food with less fertilizer.
Locally grown goji berries find niche market
Edmonton-area organic market garden has grown the berries for a decade, selling them at farmers markets and food stores
The orange-red oblong berries of the goji plant have an initial sweetness, followed by a bitter aftertaste. They have more than 500 times the amount of vitamin C as an equivalent weight of oranges.
Companies collaborate on intercropping research
The program seeks to learn the impact of regenerative farming on soil health, biodiversity and nutrient density. The hope is to create a blueprint for farmers.
