Intercropping, the system of growing at least two crops simultaneously, increases crop productivity and ecological sustainability. An intercropping system of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and maize (Zea mays) has been previously found to improve the yield of peanut, specifically its iron nutrition and photosynthetic efficiency. Here, Wang et al. investigated the role of the rhizosphere […]
Silicon (Si) plays a significant role in helping plants to mitigate biotic and abiotic stress. Previous studies have shown that the application of Si also influences the microbial communities in the rhizosphere. However, the extent to which Si shapes the dynamics of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in the rhizosphere is less explored. Here, Leite […]
Yu et al. conducted a meta-analysis of published 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequenced soil samples to compare the effects of plant-based fertilizers (e.g. compost, seaweed fertilizer) versus animal-based fertilizers (e.g., dung, manure) versus control, unfertilized samples on soil microbial diversity and function. Their analysis showed that the fertilizer source significantly influences microbial functional profiles and […]
Plant secondary metabolites like benzoxazinoid can alter biotic and abiotic soil properties to shape plant performance through plant-soil feedback, but how this feedback affects agricultural productivity and food quality in the field context is unknown. Here, the authors used large-scale agricultural field experiments to assess the performance of winter wheat varieties growing in field plots […]
Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) is a type of double-stranded circular DNA that is derived from chromosomes. High copy number and expression level of eccDNA encoding 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) have been linked with glyphosate resistance in pigweed (Amaranthus spp). Previous studies have reported the apparent transfer of glyphosate resistance across related species of pigweed and have […]
Rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase) catalyzes the fixation of atmospheric carbon from CO2 to molecules used for biosynthesis and energy production. Several studies have focused on understanding the nature, complexity, activity, and regulation of Rubisco due to its key role in the production of carbohydrates. A new special issue of the Journal of Experimental Botany highlights advances […]
Bacteria can cause plant diseases by secreting small molecules called effectors. Studies of these effectors on host plants mostly have not accounted for the cellular complexity of plant tissues. The difficulty of detecting and isolating effector-recipient cells means that scientists mostly use bulk-infected host tissues or transgenic expression of effector genes to study the functions […]
Genome editing has strong potential for crop improvement, but its application is restricted by low plant regeneration frequencies and genotype dependencies. Despite its agricultural significance, research on turnip (Brassica rapa var. rapa) is hindered by a low efficiency of transformation and shoot regeneration. In this study, Yuanyuan et al. introduced a procedure for stable genetic […]
Nigeria – a country in Africa – is blessed with an arable land of 34 million hectares with 70% of its workforce employed in agriculture. However, insufficient food production in Nigeria has been a perennial problem. The 2021 Global Hunger Index placed Nigeria 103 out of 116 countries while the 2020 UNDP Human development index […]