plant biology

A metabolite from maize roots protects the plants against arsenic toxicity.

Genetically edited bacteria sense the environment and report their findings to “listening” plants.

Despite centuries of study, scientists still make new discoveries about the mechanisms of gravitropism.

Plant chloroplasts offer insights for shielding against protein aggregation in Huntington’s disease.

Sunflowers may use a complex set of molecules to track the sun in the sky.

Researchers discovered how virulent bacterial proteins leech nutrients from plant cells, leading to a potential treatment for diseased crops.

PHYTOMap revealed the intricate genetic plant landscape, which helped researchers better understand how cells and gene expression influence each other in three-dimensional space.

Scientists used CRISPR-Cas9 for the first time in a carnivorous plant to prove the role of two ion channels in closing the Venus flytrap’s trap.

Researchers edited several tree genes to improve suitability and sustainability in the pulp and paper industry.

Expected increases in lightning strikes due to climate change could alter the botanical composition of tropical forests.

Take a break from the bench to puzzle and peruse

A tiny pilot study found that so-called chameleon vines mimicked plastic leaves, but experts say poor study design and conflicts of interest undermine the report.

Silverthorne shaped the development of many NSF programs driving innovation in plant biology and agriculture. 

Abundant environmental CO₂ can increase plant biomass and photosynthesis, but it has downsides for agriculture and ecosystems, a growing body of research finds.

Aridity appears to configure landscapes with a greater diversity of plant species that rely on symbiotic bacteria for nitrogen.

An honorable mention in the 2022 Nikon Small World in Motion competition shows thale cress sperm being released into the ovule.

A strange layer in the fossil record contains evidence that fern populations exploded following the mass extinction that ended the Cretaceous period. Scientists want to know why.