Entries by Hao Chen

Plant eyes in the dark: How a blue-light photoreceptor senses and functions without light

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Light is both a source of energy for photosynthesis and a key environmental signal that regulates plant growth. Seedlings grown in darkness exhibit elongated hypocotyls and shorter roots, while light promotes shorter hypocotyls and longer roots. Cryptochromes (CRYs), as blue-light receptors, mediate many blue-light-dependent processes, but their roles under darkness or non-blue-light conditions remain unclear. […]

Cambium secrets for vascular stem cell precision and adaptability

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The vascular cambium, a bifacial stem cell niche, generates xylem on one side and phloem on the other, driving wood formation—the largest reservoir of terrestrial biomass. This developmental system must balance producing two distinct cell types while maintaining a reservoir of stem cells. Key questions remain: How are cambial stem cells positioned and maintained, and […]