Seed size is a plant trait with agricultural and ecological relevance. However, the mechanisms that determine the final size of seeds are still subject to debate. Here, Creff and colleagues use computational models and mutant experiments to dissect the role of endosperm turgor in Arabidopsis seed size.…

Symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Mesorhizobium loti requires an exchange of signals. Plants recognize both specific nod factors (lipochitooligosaccharides) as well as cell-surface exopolysaccharides through distinct pathways. The M. loti exoU mutant fails to properly form…

Review: CRISPR screens in plants: Approaches, guidelines, and future prospects We don’t need to remind you of the tremendous positive impact that CRISPR-based technologies have had on the life sciences through enabling any gene to be edited precisely. Here, Gaillochet et al. provide an up-to-date…

Joanna Friesner, first author of Broadening the impact of plant science through innovative, integrative and inclusive outreach Current Position: Executive Director, North American Arabidopsis Steering Committee (NAASC) Education: PhD in Genetics, University of California, Davis Non-scientific…

Kirk Amundson, first author of Rare instances of haploid inducer DNA in potato dihaploids and ploidy-dependent genome instability Current Position: Ph.D. Candidate, University of California Davis, Davis CA USA Education: B.S. in Biochemistry, University of Minnesota Non-scientific interests:…

Lu-Shen Li, first author of Calmodulin-Binding Protein 60b is a central transcriptional activator of immunity Current Position: PhD candidate in Prof. Yan Zhang’s lab at Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China Education: BS in College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University,…

Carmen Martín-Pizarro, first author of The NAC transcription factor FaRIF controls fruit ripening in strawberry Current position: Postdoc at the Institute for Mediterranean and Subtropical Horticulture (IHSM – UMA – CSIC) Education: BSc in Biological Science and PhD in Molecular Biology (University…

Paula Henarejos-Escudero, first author of A dopamine-based biosynthetic pathway produces decarboxylated betalains in Chenopodium quinoa Current Position: PhD Student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Murcia Education: Biotechnology degree, Master degree in Molecular Biology and…