Science might start with data, but it grows through people who bring it to life! In this article, we meet two plant scientists, Dr. Emily May Armstrong (they/them) and Dr. Kelsey Byers (any/all pronouns), who are reimagining what plant science can evolve into: more open and welcoming for people of all…

Cycads are an ancient lineage of gymnosperms with fascinating ecological interactions. In a recent review, Salzman et al. examine the various adaptations of cycads, from attracting pollinators to repelling parasites, focusing on the roles of their wide array of specialized metabolites. A somewhat unique…

Hybrid crops are key to modern agriculture, offering higher yields, improved stress resilience, and greater uniformity through heterosis (“hybrid vigor”), where offspring from two different inbred lines outperform their parents. However, producing homozygous inbred lines for stable hybrid seed production…

Rice feeds nearly half of the world population. Rice grains are rich in starch but low in micronutrients and bioactive compounds such as flavonoids. By contrast, tea leaves are rich in antioxidants such as catechins but low in calories. Zhu and colleagues combine the advantages of rice and tea by producing…

The Casparian strip (CS), a lignin-rich apoplastic barrier in the root endodermis, forms early in development and regulates solute flow between the soil and the vasculature. It allows plants to control ion uptake, defend against pathogens, and coordinate developmental signals. While its functions in…

Eukaryotic genomes contain many endogenous viral elements (EVEs), which are genetic footprints of past viral infections. With the discovery of Nucleocytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses (NCLDVs), or giant viruses, research has turned to exploring how giant endogenous viral elements (GEVEs) shape host genomes.…

Plants coexist and interact with various microorganisms in the soil environment, including fungi. These associated fungi can not only cause diseases but also establish symbiotic interactions that boost plant health. This is the case of the endophyte Colletotrichum tofieldiae, where some strains can improve…

Citrus greening disease (also known as Huanglongbing) has had a huge impact on citrus fruit production worldwide, with Florida particularly hard hit. The disease is caused by insect-vector-spread bacteria, including Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). There is some genetic variability in susceptibility,…