Entries by Mary Williams

Inclusive collaboration across plant physiology and genomics: Now is the time!

Research and discovery rely on teamwork and collaboration, yet many academic structures don’t support or reward such models. Additionally, the significant challenges addressed by plant scientists go beyond the expertise of one PI or lab, further highlighting the need for research teams that span disciplinary boundaries. In this recent white paper, the Interdisciplinary Plant Science […]

Plant Science Research Weekly: May 26, 2023

Review: Stress-related biomolecular condensates in plants Biomolecular condensates are non-membrane-bound compartments containing proteins and RNAs with key functions in stress responses. In plants, they occur as several types with different properties and components, including stress granules and processing bodies. Protein domains such as prion-like domains and intrinsically-disordered regions provide stickiness and facilitate protein aggregation. Although […]

Plant Science Research Weekly: May 12, 2023

Review: Climate change impacts on plant pathogens, food security, and paths forward Much of what is written about the impacts of climate change on food production is focused on the abiotic stresses that plants will experience, but biotic stresses will be equally impactful, as discussed in this fine review by Singh et al. The challenges […]

Plant Physiology is recruiting Assistant Features Editors for 2024

By Yunde Zhao (Plant Physiology EIC) and Mary Williams (Plant Physiology Features Editor) The mission of the Assistant Features Editor (AFE) program is to help disseminate exciting discoveries published in Plant Physiology and to advance young scientists’ careers. This past January, Plant Physiology welcomed 19 new Assistant Features Editors to the editorial board. Together with […]

Point mutations in the catalytic domain disrupt cellulose synthase vesicle trafficking and protein dynamics

Cellulose is an important and useful biopolymer, present in plant cell walls and synthesized at the plasma membrane by protein complexes called cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs) composed of multimers of cellulose synthase (CESA). CESAs are embedded in the membrane and move along the membrane as they polymerize cellulose. In a new study, Huang et al. […]

Natural variation of maize root hydraulic architecture underlies highly diverse water uptake capacities

Water uptake by roots is controlled by two factors: the architecture of the root system, and its hydraulic capacity. The later property is largely determined by the anatomical and physiological properties of the root cells, which include things like suberization and the presence of aquaporins (regulated water channels). Rishmawi et al. characterized multiple parameters on […]