Researchers say they have found soil seed banks cannot rescue plant diversity that has been affected by fertilizer use
New research from the University of Oulu in Finland suggests nutrient enrichment of soil seed banks can weaken underground diversity and lower the potential for plants to rely on natural ecosystems. “From previous research, we know that nutrient enrichment leads to plant diversity loss in above-ground plant communities,” said Anu Eskelinen, of the university’s ecology […] Read moreStories by Margaret Evans
Cover crop efficiency may drop
Cover crops can help improve soil health, reduce soil erosion, cut fertilizer costs and increase soil organic matter. But how climate change will affect the practice remains a wild card. A recent study from the University of Illinois suggests cover crops may become less efficient in the future. The study also showed that yields of […] Read more
Research explores plant breeding predictability
Study indicates that the role of background mutations demands greater reassessment when developing new varieties
For about 80,000 years, evolution has shaped cherry-sized tomatoes that first originated in Ecuador. Farming and crop breeding led to bigger, sweeter varieties as they spread in popularity and diversity of uses. Now, CRISPR gene editing can create new mutations with even greater improvements on desired traits. But none of these mutations, whether natural or […] Read more
Vital root hair growth gene discovered
Root hairs function as an extension of a plant’s root tips. They increase the surface area of plant roots, helping them extract more water and nutrients from the soil. Recently, scientists at Washington State University discovered a gene that drives the growth of root hairs. The gene causes faster-growing, denser webs of root hairs to […] Read more
Genetic modification happens often in nature
Researchers show that grasses frequently incorporate DNA from other species in a process called lateral gene transfer
When many people think about genetically modified crops, they think of altering plants in the lab so they can better cope with drought, disease and pests or be able to grow quicker. However, genetic modification is actually a natural occurrence, and research led by the University of Sheffield is the first to show the frequency […] Read more
Three genes discovered that make carrots orange
The U.S. research project is now studying the genetic mechanism that controls traits important for carrot production
Many vegetables are so familiar, they are taken for granted, especially something as commonplace as carrots. But recently, researchers at North Carolina State University delved into the familiar carrot in a study exploring what gives the vegetable its orange colour. Researchers looked at the genetic blueprints of more than 600 types of carrots and found […] Read more
Bacterial proteins soak plants’ cellular plumbing
A family of ‘weird’ proteins make plants sick by punching holes in their cell membranes and forcing them to drink
Plant pathogens have become extremely efficient at infecting crops and injecting harmful proteins into cells for their own benefit. From brown spot in beans, bacterial speck in tomatoes or fire blight in fruit trees, a family of proteins called AvrE/DspE causes havoc in hundreds of crops worldwide. Now, researchers at Duke University in North Carolina […] Read more
Cows fed low protein diet need amino acid supplement
Histidine can help maintain milk production for dairy producers trying to decrease nitrogen losses in manure
If dairy cows are fed reduced protein diets to decrease nitrogen losses and ammonia emissions from manure, their milk production can suffer. However, according to research at Pennsylvania State University, supplementing their diet with the amino acid histidine may help maintain milk production. It may even increase milk and milk-protein yields. Histidine is essential for […] Read more
Researchers find temperature sensors on plant roots
Knowing that roots integrate temperature information independent of shoots may help breeders develop better varieties
Plants respond to the ambient temperature with growth patterns that adjust as the temperature changes. But how they do it has remained a mystery. Recently, researchers at Martin Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, discovered that roots’ temperature and sensing systems are independent of the plant’s shoots. The study could lead to new methods in plant […] Read more
Plants’ water use efficiency stalled 20 years ago
Researchers have found a weakening response in plant growth and a sustained increase in plant water use since 2001
It has often been thought by scientists that the rising concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere benefit plants and increase their water-use efficiency by absorbing more carbon, using less water and increasing growth. But recent research by scientists at the University of New Hampshire and colleagues at the universities of Michigan State, Montana and […] Read more
