Mathematical modeling approaches in plant metabolomics
Plant Science Research WeeklyMathematical modeling, as a series of useful methods for functional and causal interpretation of experimental high-throughput studies, enables us to explore the complex field of plant metabolism. The application of differential equations as a mathematical method has been developed and reviewed for decades…
Auxin efflux carrier ZmPGP1 mediates root growth inhibition under aluminum stress (Plant Physiology)
Plant Science Research WeeklyAcid soils (pH < 5.5) mobilize aluminum (Al) in the rhizosphere, which damages the root meristem and hinders exploration for nutrients and water. Zhang et al. demonstrate that a mutation in ZmPGP1, an auxin transport protein, imparts enhanced root growth under toxic Al conditions. The enhanced root…
Plant-pathogen arms race: A pathogen effector protein inhibits trans-kingdom RNAi (Cell Host & Microbe)
Plant Science Research WeeklyPhytophthora spp. are highly aggressive fungus-like pathogens that cause various blight and rot diseases in many crops. Upon invasion of host cells, Phytophthora delivers thousands of effector proteins. Some of these effectors suppress the host RNA silencing pathway, which is mediated by a diverse…
Xylan and lignin deposition are independent of cellulose in the secondary cell wall (Plant Cell)
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe secondary cell wall (SCW) plays an important role in the structural integrity of plants and is key to efficient water conductivity. Despite the important role of the SCW, little known about how and when SCW components are assembled. Currently, it is understood that cellulose deposition is a precursor…
A single JAZ repressor controls the jasmonate pathway in Marchantia polymorpha (Molecular Plant) ($)
Plant Science Research Weekly
Previously, Monte et al. showed that the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha perceives the jasmonate pathway precursor dn-OPDA instead of the well known JA-Ile phytohormone of vascular plants. Now, Monte and colleagues focus on the MpJAZ, downstream of the signal transduction pathway. MpJAZ is the sole…
UV bullseye contrast of Hemerocallis flowers attracts hawkmoths but not swallowtail butterflies (Ecology and Evolution)
Plant Science Research WeeklyFloral color and patterning each play a role in filtering pollinator visits to any given flower. However, just as the color and patterning of flowers is multidimensional, so too should be our understanding of the relative importance of color-related traits in pollinator preference. Hirota et al.…
Speed breeding is a powerful tool to accelerate crop research and breeding (Nature Plants) ($)
Plant Science Research WeeklyAccelerated development of improved plant varieties is imperative to meet the ever-growing needs in the agri-food sector. Breeding has been a durable solution for developing elite cultivars; however, the entire process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Here, Watson et al. demonstrated how extending…
What We're Reading: February 1st
Blog, WWR Full PostHappy February! This week we have a special issue featuring summaries written by candidates for the 2019 Plantae Fellows program. (Official announcement to follow soon).
Review: Deep learning on image-based plant phenotyping
The development of deep learning brings opportunities to train computers…