Switch to a New Research Project
Blog, CareersWhen you're committed to a research project but are considering switching to a new one, you might wonder if it's a common practice. Is it normal to change projects? What experiences do others who have made such a switch share? What steps should you take in this scenario? The accompanying infographic…
What happens when DNA breaks are repaired and when repair fails?
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellSamach et al. use a pigment-based visual assay to explore the repair of double-stranded DNA breakd in plants.
https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad209
Avraham Levy and Aviva Samach, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Background: Plant breeding is the art of combining desirable traits…
Plant Direct Spotlights 2023 First Authors
Blog, Community, Plant Direct: Author ProfilesBehind manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Twitter and Facebook— now, read more about why they chose to pursue plant sciences and click on the links below the pictures to read their…
Biotechnology Development in Africa
Blog, CommunityIn Africa, smallholder agriculture is the most common type of farming, and its growth is closely linked to reducing poverty and promoting agricultural development. It is estimated that around 41 million smallholders provide most of the food for both rural and urban residents in Africa. Some challenges…
A liverwort view of gibberellin biosynthesis
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellSun et al. investigated genes related to gibberellin biosynthesis in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and found them to be critical for far-red light responses. The Plant Cell (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad216
By Rui Sun and Takayuki Kohchi (Kyoto University)
Background: The…
Special issue: Human-machine collaboration in plant biology
Plant Science Research WeeklyThis is an excellent article to wrap up this year and lead us into the future. Introducing a special issue of Plant Cell Physiology, Nakajima et al. summarize an exciting collection of papers that look at diverse ways that plant biology can be enhanced through “human-machine collaborations”. Some…
A novel way to conduct genome wide association studies for secondary metabolites
Plant Science Research WeeklyPlants produce many specialized metabolites that are often associated with increased plant fitness. Metabolic genome wide association studies (mGWAS) identify enzymes involved in specialized metabolite biosynthesis. However, this relies on identifying metabolites from mass spectrometry data which is…
Breakthrough in the identification of photosynthesis genes in green algae
Plant Science Research WeeklyImagine the everyday delights of foods like bread, ramen, or sushi. Central to these culinary staples is starch, a product of the photosynthesis process in plants. Despite its critical role, people still do not fully understand the regulation and biogenesis of the photosynthesis machinery. In this study,…
Guanylate cyclase activity of TIR1/AFB auxin receptors in rapid auxin responses
Plant Science Research WeeklyAuxin is a pleiotropic plant hormone with diverse functions, many of which are mediated through transcriptional reprograming. However, some auxin responses occur extremely rapidly, ruling out changes in transcription as a mechanism. In 2022, one of the components of an auxin receptor, F-box protein TIR1/AFB,…