Ryohei Thomas Nakano, first author of A Golgi-released subpopulation of the trans-Golgi network mediates protein secretion in Arabidopsis Current Position: Principal Investigator at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany Education: M.Sc (2009) and D.Sc (2012) in Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan Non-scientific Interests: Spending time with […]
A forthcoming issue of Current Opinion in Biotechnology features a set of reviews on the topic of lignin, particularly its chemistry and applications. Lignin is a complex set of polymers that provide structural support to vascular plants (See Renault et al. for insights into lignin’s evolutionary origins). From a biochemical perspective, lignin is interesting because […]
LEA genes were first identified as being highly abundant during seed desiccation (hence their name), but later were also shown to accumulate in other tissues in response to drought stress, and to confer desiccation tolerance in “resurrection plants”. These small proteins are characterized by having intrinsically disordered domains, shown to contribute to their properties of […]
Many flowers have evolved to attract pollinators through scent, shape, nectar production and color. Small changes in any of these attributes can be sufficient to dramatically shift pollinator preferences and pollination efficiency. Petunia has recently diverged into several species, characterized as short- or long-tube forms. Short tube forms are purple and bee-polinated, whereas there is […]
Sexual reproduction mixes up genes and provides genetically diverse progeny, key for survival and fodder for evolution. Sexual reproduction is detrimental to the propagation of hybrid crops though, as mixing up the genes leads to progeny that will be inferior to the hybrid parent. Khanday et al. have developed an asexual-propagation trait that allows a […]
Opinion: A canopy conundrum: can wind-induced movement help to increase crop productivity by relieving photosynthetic limitations? ($) High wind speeds may result in substantial damage to crop canopies, resulting in a loss of productivity. Lower wind speeds affect crop canopies in different ways – while physical damage does not occur, the movement of plant tissues […]
Elio Fantini, first author of Pivotal roles of cryptochromes 1a and 2 in tomato development and physiology Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow at ENEA Trisaia, Italy Education: Master’s Degree in Agriculture sciences and technologies, University of Pisa, Italy. PhD in Molecular, industrial and environmental biotechnology, University of Verona, Italy. Non-scientific Interests: Playing with my daughter, reading, […]
Yang-Er Chen, first author of The Low Molecular Mass Photosystem II Protein PsbTn is Important for Light Acclimation Current Position: Associate Professor, College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University Education: Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and M.Sc. in Ornamental Plants and Gardening, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; B.Sc. in Biology Education, Jiujiang University, Jiangxi, China. Non-scientific […]
Amanda A. Cardoso, first author of Hydraulics regulates stomatal responses to changes in leaf water status in Athyrium filix-femina Current Position: Post-Doctoral Research Assistant, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA Education: PhD in Plant Physiology, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil Non-scientific Interests: Traveling, outdoor activities, bushwalking, soccer-beer-BBQ Brief bio: Plants have always captured my […]