Plants and pathogens are locked in a co-evolutionary arms race. Pathogens secrete effectors into plants, leading to effector-triggered susceptibility. Plants in turn respond through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of defence-related genes to defend themselves, which…

Pathogens have evolved diverse infection strategies governed by virulence factors, often targeting specific host organs or tissues. Genome fluidity plays a crucial role in enabling microbial pathogens to adapt to the dynamic selection pressures imposed by co-evolution with their hosts. In a recent study,…

Membrane-localized receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are essential for perceiving diverse signaling molecules, including proteins, polysaccharides, hormones, reactive oxygen species, ions, and damage-associated molecular patterns. Among the well-characterized RLKs, FLS2, EFR, and CERK1 are known to recognize…

Perspective: How should the advancement of large language models affect the practice of science? In this thought-provoking Perspective, four sets of authors express their opinions about the use of Large Language Models (such as ChatGPT) in the practice of science. Each essay is well reasoned, and…

A Message from the Initiative Originator, Kevin Cox Jr., Ph.D: What has become a tradition of mine since February 2021, every day of Black History Month I highlight a Black botanist, resulting in over 110 Black botanists and their work being highlighted and amplified by others over the last four years.…

Along with many others, we have done our best to absorb the deluge of executive actions that have taken place over the past few weeks. We recognize the harm they are causing to both individuals and institutions, as well as the cascading impact they have on the plant biology workforce and, by extension,…

Neurodivergence refers to the variations in human neurocognitive functioning, encompassing conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and others. The term "neurodivergence" comes from the broader concept of "neurodiversity," a term often…

Rubisco (Ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) is the central enzyme for photosynthesis, This enzyme poorly discriminates between CO2 and O2, which limits its efficiency.  To work around this and make carbon assimilation more efficient, scientists have been employing different engineering…