Newswise Feature Channel: Plants

Scientists Witness Living Plant Cells Generate Cellulose and Form Cell Walls For the First Time

Rutgers University-New Brunswick — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:00:00 EST

In a groundbreaking study on the synthesis of cellulose - a major constituent of all plant cell walls - a team of Rutgers University-New Brunswick researchers has captured images of the microscopic process of cell-wall building continuously over 24 hours with living plant cells, providing critical insights that may lead to the development of more robust plants for increased food and lower-cost biofuels production.

Revolutionizing Cassava Breeding: CRISPR-Cas9 Unlocks Potential for Disease Resistance and Enhanced Yield

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 05:05:01 EST

A research team investigates how genome editing can be harnessed to accelerate cassava breeding and improve key traits.

Genetic Diversity and Conservation Insights for Phoebe Bournei: A Study Using EST-SSR Molecular Markers

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 05:00:43 EST

A research team using EST-SSR molecular marker technology reveals vital information on the genetic diversity and structure of nine natural populations of Phoebe bournei, providing a scientific foundation for the conservation and sustainable use of its germplasm resources.

Plant Patch Can Detect Stress Signals in Real Time

American Chemical Society (ACS) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 08:00:00 EST

Researchers reporting in ACS Sensors have created a wearable patch for plants that quickly senses stress and relays the information to a grower. The electrochemical sensor attaches directly to live plant leaves and monitors hydrogen peroxide, a key distress signal.

Protecting Crops: Researchers Open Up New Avenue to Combat a Widespread Plant Virus

Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:05:00 EST

New RNA-based active agents reliably protect plants against the Cucumber mosaic virus, the most common virus in agriculture and horticulture. They were developed by researchers at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. In lab experiments, almost all of the treated plants survived an infection. The study will appear in "Nucleic Acids Research".

New Genetic Pathway Unlocks Drought-Resistant Cucumbers with Fewer Branches

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:30:03 EST

A new discovery has unveiled a genetic module, CsTIE1-CsAGL16, that simultaneously regulates lateral branch development and drought tolerance in cucumbers. This dual-function genetic pathway offers a promising new approach to breeding cucumber varieties that are both resilient to water scarcity and tailored to market preferences. By deciphering how these genes coordinate water conservation and branch growth, researchers have opened new doors for improving crop adaptability and productivity in the face of climate change.

D.C. Cherry Blossoms Begin First Phase of Development

George Washington University — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 19:20:05 EST

On average, D.C.'s beloved cherry blossoms bloom around the last week of March into the first week of April, but it can vary from year to year based on weather conditions. ...

New Insights Into How High Temperatures Delay Flowering in Osmanthus Fragrans

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:05:56 EST

As global temperatures rise, the ability to understand how plants respond to heat has never been more critical. A recent study has uncovered a molecular mechanism by which elevated temperatures inhibit flowering in Osmanthus fragrans, a beloved ornamental plant. The research highlights how the OfC3H49 gene, activated by heat, suppresses flowering by inhibiting vital flowering-related genes. This discovery not only enriches our understanding of how temperature controls flowering but also paves the way for developing climate-resilient plant varieties and improving ornamental plant cultivation strategies.

Wheat Stem Sawfly Genes Editing-CRISPR

Montana BioAgriculture Inc. — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:50:34 EST

Insects, diseases, and abiotic stressors cause losses of millions of tons of wheat and cost farmers $100s of millions each year.

Unlocking the Secrets of Plant Scent: How Terpene Synthases Drive Floral Diversity

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:15:33 EST

A recent study reveals how the expansion and functional divergence of terpene synthase genes (TPSs) in flowering plants (angiosperms) have driven the astonishing diversity of terpenes--critical compounds involved in plant defense, floral scents, and fruit flavors.

Ohalo(r) Launches the Ohalo Strawberry Consortium: A Groundbreaking Collaboration with Industry Leaders to Develop More Flavorful Strawberries While Benefiting Farmers by Bringing Them to Market as True Seed

Ohalo Genetics, Inc — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:35:50 EST

Ohalo(r) Launches the Ohalo Strawberry Consortium: A Groundbreaking Collaboration with Industry Leaders to Develop More Flavorful Strawberries While Benefiting Farmers by Bringing Them to Market as True Seed

Circadian Rhythms in Tea Plant Microbiomes: A Key to Nutrient Cycling

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 10:55:37 EST

A groundbreaking study has uncovered a fascinating connection between the circadian rhythms of tea plants and the microbial communities in their rhizosphere, providing new insights into nutrient cycling. Researchers have found that these biological clocks not only influence microbial composition but also regulate nitrogen and phosphorus cycling. By studying two distinct tea cultivars, Longjing43 (LJ43) and Zhongcha108 (ZC108), the team discovered that fungal communities are most stable and abundant at midnight, while bacterial communities exhibit more variability. This research offers fresh perspectives on how the timing of plant activity impacts soil ecosystems, presenting opportunities for sustainable tea cultivation.

Bringing Expansion Microscopy to Plants

Washington University in St. Louis — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 08:30:49 EST

Biologists have discovered a low-cost way to more easily study the detailed makeup of plant cells. The ultimate goal is to help grow better crops, improving food security.

Scientists Identify Key Gene Enhancing Citrus Survival in Cold Climates

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 07:25:30 EST

A pioneering study has uncovered the role of a key gene, PtrPAT1, in boosting cold tolerance in citrus plants by regulating the accumulation of glycine betaine (GB).

Interdisciplinary Research Reveals Genetic Mechanisms for Fine-Tuning Agronomic Traits in Corn

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 10:00:00 EST

A research team led by Andrea Eveland, PhD, associate member at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, has uncovered key genetic regulatory factors that control pleiotropy--a phenomenon where a single gene influences multiple traits.

UP Experts and Volunteers Spearhead First Large-Scale Magaliesberg Aloe Reintroduction

University of Pretoria — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 07:30:39 EST

Rare-plant experts from the University of Pretoria (UP) are spearheading the reintroduction of thousands of critically endangered Magaliesberg aloe (Aloe peglerae) seedlings into the wild. The project, supported by the Botanical Society of South Africa (BotSoc), is the first major reintroduction effort involving an endemic South African aloe species.

Unlocking the Genetic Secrets of Nematode-Tomato Warfare

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 09:15:02 EST

A pioneering study has uncovered the sophisticated tactics root-knot nematodes use to manipulate the genetic machinery of tomato plants, creating galls essential for their survival. By analyzing changes in transcriptomes and spliceomes, researchers pinpointed key genes and alternative splicing events that nematodes exploit to suppress plant defenses and reprogram cell cycles. These groundbreaking findings offer new insights into the parasitic relationship between nematodes and host plants, paving the way for the development of resistant crops.

Ideal Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates in Corn Belt Have Been Climbing for Decades, Iowa State Study Shows

Iowa State University — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 20:05:20 EST

The amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed to maximize the profitability of corn production in the Midwest has been increasing by about 1.2% per year for the past three decades, a trend driven by higher yields and wetter springs, according to new Iowa State University study.

Crops Judging Team Stands Out for Student-Focused Instructional Approach

University of Nebraska-Lincoln — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 18:50:54 EST

Garrett Kuss, coach of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Crops Judging Team, empowers his students to guide the club's instructional

Biology Professor Morris Contributes to Discovery of New Plant Species

Furman University — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:05:50 EST

Biology Professor Morris contributes to discovery of new plant species