How plant vampires strike: Mechanosensitive channels in haustorium formation
Plant Science Research WeeklyWhile the existence of vampires is up for debate, their botanical counterparts are very real - and much easier to find. Parasitic plants, such as Cuscuta campestris, wrap around their hosts, draining them of water and nutrients, and causing serious economic losses in agriculture. The first critical step…
Plant Science Research Weekly: April 25th, 2025
WWR Full PostReview: Cycad, chemicals, and coevolution
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…
Expanding Support for Plant Biology Conference Attendees
UncategorizedOn March 19, 2025, ASPB’s Board of Directors approved the creation of a temporarily restricted fund to support travel awards, SURF recipients, and ASPB-subsidized childcare. The ASPB Plant Biology Temporarily Restricted Fund is intended to provide critical but flexible support for conference attendees…
Cultivating Scientific Communication Skills in Plant Science
Blog, CommunityPlant science plays a crucial role in addressing some of the world’s most urgent challenges, including food security, climate change, and biodiversity conservation. However, for scientific findings to have a tangible impact, they must be effectively communicated to diverse audiences. Whether engaging…
Plantae Presents: How Plant Scientists Can Lead the Way in Green Lab Practices
Blog, Education, Plantae WebinarsPlantae Presents: How Plant Scientists Can Lead the Way in Green Lab Practices
Featuring Caitlin Broadbent, Malia Gehan, and Lize Joubert
When: Thursday, April 24, 2025, at
7:00 AM PDT | 10:00 AM EDT | 3:00 PM BST | 10:00 PM Beijing
About this Webinar
Join us for an insightful and inspiring discussion…
From Academia to Industry: Expert Advice from Industry Veterans Who Made The Leap
Blog, Careers
It is the age-old question for an early-career scientist: should I pursue a path in academia or industry? Following years of study through graduate school, new scientists may feel the pull to embrace research freedom and flexibility traditionally offered by an academic track, alongside the opportunity…
ASPB Supports Funding for USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
UncategorizedAs budget development continues, ASPB recently joined with other research institutions, scientific societies, and agricultural stakeholders in a letter to House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Members requesting “no less than $500 million for the USDA Agriculture and Food Research…
Review: Celebrating 150 years of Arabidopsis genetics
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe first known report of an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant appeared approximately 150 years ago (1873). In the intervening years, Arabidopsis has become an essential model for plant genetic research, driving groundbreaking discoveries across multiple disciplines. In a recent review, Yaschenko et al. provide…
Review. Genetic switchboards: Rewiring plant traits with synthetic circuits
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe expression of a transgene in plants can impose a significant stress, sometimes referred to as metabolic burden. Synthetic gene circuits offer a precise approach to engineering plant traits by regulating gene expression through programmable operations. This review by Lloyd et al. examines the core…