Entries by Mary Williams

Long-distance turgor pressure changes induce local activation of plant glutamate receptor-like channels

Following wounding or herbivory, plants can rapidly transmit signals systemically (over long distances). These systemic signals are thought to enhance plant defenses by preparing distant tissues for imminent attack. Genetic studies have shown that the glutamate receptor-like calcium channel GLR3.3 (a calcium-permeable channel activated by glutamate binding) is important for systemic signaling; opening this channel […]

Gaining cis-elements contributed to enhanced expression of C4 genes

C4 photosynthesis is derived from C3 photosynthesis. When related genes are compared, those involved in C4 photosynthesis tend to be more highly expressed. To understand this phenomenon, Singh et al. undertook a very impressive approach to look at transcriptional regulation of essentially all the photosynthetic genes in two members of the Brassicales, Arabidopsis thaliana (C3) […]

Hydraulic trade-offs underlie enhanced performance of polyploid trees under soil water deficit

The (apparently delicious) fruit called atemoya is produced from a hybrid of Annona squamosa (sugar apple) × Annona cherimola (cherimoya), native to the American tropics but now grown widely. The hybridization event led to plants with several ploidies; diploid, triploid and tetraploid, which serve as the experimental material for a study by Losada et al. […]

How did the daisy get its spots? Gene co-option and fly mimicry

This is one of those “straight into the textbook” stories. Kellenberger et al. investigated the unusual petal pigmentation pattern of a South African daisy Gorteria diffusa, which has petals with odd lumpy irregular spots that mimic female flies and enhance pollination through sexual deception. The authors undertook an analysis of genes expressed in the spotted […]

Plant Science Research Weekly: April 14, 2023

Review: Proximity labeling in plants Genetic studies can suggest that two proteins function in the same pathway, but how can we figure out if they share the same space? In this review, Xu et al. provide an overview of proximity labeling, a method to identify proteins that co-localize in space. Proximity labeling uses a biotin […]

Special feature: Harnessing crop diversity

Don’t miss this excellent set of articles on the topic of crop diversity, organized by Susan McCouch, Loren Rieseberg, with Pamela Ronald. It includes five perspectives and six research articles, on topics such as breeding technologies and international policies. As the editors observe, having a very narrow range of crop diversity is both risky (more […]

Seeing clearly: Plant anatomy through Katherine Esau’s microscopy lens

This is a fun and interesting paper that combines two threads, a historical overview of the many contributions of Katherine Esau to plant anatomy (many of you have her book on your shelf) and the historical advancements in microscopy. Geitmann weaves these threads together by putting Esau’s drawings of plant structures side-by-side with contemporary images […]

One hundred important questions facing plant science: An international perspective

In 2011, a group of scientists published an article called “One hundred important questions facing plant scientists”. Now, Armstrong et al. have provided an updated version of this, with an additional effort to draw on contributions from the global community, including non-specialists, to identify key questions. An interesting outcome is the notable increase in the […]

Optimizing short-format training: Effective, inclusive, and career-spanning professional development

Short-format training (SFT) provides opportunities for people to acquire knowledge and skills outside of traditional degree-granting programs. Unfortunately, in spite of good intentions, there’s evidence to suggest that the SFTs aren’t always very effective, and that the knowledge gained doesn’t necessarily persist. A group of experts and practitioners of SFT have crafted a set of […]