Golden Delicious apples are particularly susceptible to the fungal pathogen Alternaria alternaria f. sp. mali. Zhang et al. have traced this susceptibility to a single nucleotide in the promoter of gene encoding a hairpin RNA (hpRNA), MdhpRNA277. This hpRNA produces small RNAs that selectivey target five resistance genes. In susceptible plants, the hpRNA is produced […]
Some pathogen effectors disarm a plant’s immunity directly, for example through targeting resistance genes, whereas others work indirectly, through the plants own susceptibility (S) factors. He et al. provide an example of the latter. Previously, the authors showed that the Phytophthora infestans effector Pi02860 interacts with NRL1, a host S factor that is required for […]
As we face increasingly odd weather patterns resulting from elevated CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, the question of how best to balance the need to produce food with the desire to minimize CO2 emissions becomes increasingly urgent. Williams et al. compared the effects of different types of land-use strategies on above-ground carbon stocks. They found […]
Review: MYBs drive novel consumer traits in fruits and vegetables The MYB transcription factors, specifically the R2R3 family of MYBs, are closely associated with the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis. This easy-to-score trait made MYBs some of the earliest characterized plant transcription factors. Allan and Espley summarize the contributions of MYBs to pigmentation in flowers, fruits, […]
Jianping Yu, first author of Natural Variation in OsLG3 Increases Drought Tolerance in Rice by Inducing ROS Scavenging Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow in Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Education: Ph. D., China Agricultural University Non-scientific Interests: Playing basketball Brief bio: Jianping got his PhD in 2017 from the […]
Haiyan Xiong, first author of Natural Variation in OsLG3 Increases Drought Tolerance in Rice by Inducing ROS Scavenging Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Plant Science, University of Cambridge, UK. Education: Ph.D., China Agricultural University Non-scientific Interests: Traveling, reading Brief bio: Haiyan got her PhD in 2014 from the Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding […]
Juan Ignacio Cagnola, first author of Long-day photoperiod enhances jasmonic acid-related plant defense Current Position: Post-Doctoral position at IFEVA-CONICET, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires (Argentina). Education: Doctor of Agronomic Science, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires. Non-scientific Interests: Woodwork, aeronautics and space, football and building toys. Brief bio: Graduated as an agronomist (2008) and Doctor of Agronomic […]
Guoliang Yuan, first author of PROTEIN PHOSHATASE 2A B’α and β maintain centromeric sister chromatid cohesion during meiosis in Arabidopsis Current Position: PhD student, Department Plant and Crop, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Education: Master of Landscape Architecture, Zhejiang University Non-scientific Interests: Movies, basketball, swimming, travelling Brief bio: I started to learn biology with my bachelor’s […]
Young children are curious by nature and their inquisitive minds are like sponges that take in everything that is happening around them. As a parent, a scientist, and an educator, I feel that my role is to teach children the basic rules of life in a fun and accessible way, while nurturing kids’ natural curiosity […]