Newswise Feature Channel: Agriculture

Doubling Up: The Genetic Journey of Tetraploid Strawberries Unveiled

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 09:20:29 EST

A recent study has uncovered new genetic insights into how two wild strawberries--Fragaria corymbosa and Fragaria moupinensis--have evolved to thrive in high-altitude environments.

Controlling Infectious Disease Between Wildlife and Livestock on Shared Rangeland

Texas A&M AgriLife — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:50:03 EST

Sapna Chitlapilly Dass, Ph.D., assistant professor in microbial ecology and microbiome interactions, Department of Animal Science, is studying the ongoing threat of emerging pathogens that can necessitate prompt deployment of medical countermeasures for life-saving interventions.

Notre Dame's Pulte Institute Joins Global Consortium Using Research to End Poverty

University of Notre Dame — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 13:35:26 EST

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded $75 million to a consortium of leading global institutions, including the Pulte Institute for Global Development at the University of Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs, to enhance the effectiveness of poverty alleviation programs through research.

Worldwide Perspective for Swine Production and Reproduction for the Next 20 Years

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 11:45:05 EST

Grape Expectations: Genetic Editing for Disease-Resistant Vines

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:45:09 EST

A pivotal study unveils a novel approach to combating gray mold, a devastating pathogen for grapevines. By leveraging the power of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, scientists are working to develop genetically resistant grape varieties, offering a potential game-changer for the global grape industry. This research not only deepens our understanding of how Botrytis cinerea invades grapevines but also provides hope for future crops, reducing both crop loss and environmental impacts by creating more resilient and sustainable vines.

2025 Economic Outlook Amid Presidential Transition: MSU Experts Can Comment

Michigan State University — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 17:35:41 EST

The economy was the top issue for voters in the 2024 presidential election with many Americans feeling the pinch of higher gas and food prices. From foreign conflict in the Middle East to port workers striking for collective bargaining efforts, as well as voters approving minimum wage raises in several states, the U.S. economy continues to lead in many headlines. That said, economists and experts at Michigan State University are available to comment on the economic forecast for the coming year, speaking specifically to the potential implications of tariffs, the stock market, automotive issues and electric vehicles, food prices and agriculture, and education.

Seed Biology Successfully Indexed in Web of Science: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 01:40:20 EST

We are delighted to announce that Seed Biology has been included in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI).

How Plant Enzymes Can Adapt to Higher Temperatures

Michigan State University — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:25:04 EST

As global temperatures rise, it's imperative that plants can adapt to new and changing conditions. Michigan State University researchers from the Walker lab are looking at ways to give plants an assist. More specifically, their research aims to help plants adapt to changing temperatures by introducing engineered enzymes that will increase plants' heat tolerance.

Landmark Photosynthesis Gene Discovery Boosts Plant Height, Advances Crop Science

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 07:10:59 EST

A team of scientists with two Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Centers -- the Center for Bioenergy Innovation, or CBI, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, or CABBI, at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign -- identified a gene in a poplar tree that enhances photosynthesis and can boost tree height by about 30% in the field and by as much as 200% in the greenhouse.

Climate-Ready Crop

Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) Project — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 05:00:00 EST

A team from the RIPE project has engineered potato to be more resilient to global warming showing 30% increases in tuber mass under heatwave conditions. This adaptation may provide greater food security for families dependent on potatoes, as these are often the same areas where the changing climate has already affected multiple crop seasons. Their work was recently published in Global Change Biology

Phenomic Selection: A Breakthrough for Hybrid Rapeseed Breeding

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 11:20:35 EST

A research team introduces phenomic selection (PS) as a low-cost, high-throughput alternative to genomic selection (GS) in hybrid rapeseed breeding.

Streams Near Farms Emit High Levels of Greenhouse Gas, Studies Find

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 11:00:47 EST

In two recent papers, researchers found that emissions from streams are largely derived from nitrification processes in agricultural soils. Further, they found that stream emissions make up a much greater portion of the annual nitrous oxide budget than previously known.

Revolutionizing rice breeding: high-throughput EOPT technology enhances panicle trait analysis

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 11:00:29 EST

A research team has developed a novel, high-throughput, nondestructive method for assessing rice panicle traits, termed Extraction of Panicle Traits (EOPT).

Backyard Chickens Are Here to Stay

University of Adelaide — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:35:08 EST

Chickens have been a mainstay in Australian backyards for generations. New research from the University of Adelaide reveals that owners see their chooks as a blend between pet and livestock as well as a trustworthy source of produce.

Implementing Ancient Agricultural Practices to Confront Modern-Day Challenges of Water Scarcity and Food Insecurity

Bar-Ilan University — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:55:05 EST

A new study exploring traditional sunken groundwater-harvesting agroecosystems in coastal and inland sand (SGHAS) bodies of Israel, Iran, Egypt, Algeria, Gaza, and the Atlantic coast of Iberia offers fresh perspectives on ancient agricultural techniques that could inform modern sustainability practices. The research, which combines geospatial analysis, archaeological findings, and historical documentation, sheds light on the innovative use of water-harvesting and soil-enrichment technologies developed in the early Islamic period and their continued relevance to contemporary agricultural challenges.

Mitochondrial Maestro: PtoRFL30 Orchestrates Poplar Development

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 09:15:05 EST

New research reveals the pivotal role of a mitochondrion-localized protein, PtoRFL30, in the wood formation of poplar trees. This revelation sheds light on the dynamic communication between a tree's nuclear and mitochondrial systems, offering crucial insights into secondary growth.

Tomato Science: Unraveling the Genetic Keys to Thriving Under Nitrate Stress

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 08:55:38 EST

A cutting-edge studystudy has uncovered the pivotal role of the sltrxh protein in tomatoes in managing nitrate stress--a growing challenge in modern agriculture. The research highlights that s-nitrosation, a key post-translational modification of sltrxh, significantly enhances the plant's ability to tolerate high nitrate levels. This discovery marks a promising step toward developing crop varieties with improved resistance to nitrogen stress, addressing both agricultural and environmental concerns.

Harnessing Nature's Arsenal: Phospholipids in Plant Defense Mechanisms

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 09:10:52 EST

A new study reveals how plants can harness their genetic makeup to fend off Podosphaera xanthii, the fungal culprit behind powdery mildew. By activating a lipid-based defense system using a natural plant-derived inducer, the research paves the way for eco-friendly pest control, reducing reliance on harmful pesticides and promoting agricultural sustainability.

Sharing is Caring: Central Europe's First Farmers Lived in Equality

University of Vienna — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 05:00:00 EST

An international team of researchers led by Pere Gelabert and Ron Pinhasi of the University of Vienna and David Reich of Harvard University has produced the most complete set of Early Neolithic genetic data from Central Europe to date. The results of this study, just published in Nature Human Behaviour, reveal that the culture responsible for the expansion of agriculture in Central Europe 8,000 years ago showed no signs of population stratification.

Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Future of Tick Control

Texas A&M AgriLife — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 11:00:28 EST

Research collaboration by the Texas A&M Department of Entomology and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, creates potential for genetic tools to control disease-spreading ticks.