Review: Root development and symbiosis: an epigenetic perspective
Plant Science Research WeeklyRoots do not grow in isolation but occupy a space inhabited by a variety of organisms. With certain fungi and bacteria, they form partnerships or symbiotic relationships that increase the plant’s nutrient uptake and assimilation. While the knowledge on the genetic programs required to establish these…
Gene knock-down using gene editing
Plant Science Research WeeklyAn efficient method of gene downregulation, where gene expression is reduced but not completely knocked out, is useful for crop improvement. Here, Shen et al. have developed a system to achieve this, by using CRISPR/Cas9 to insert an element containing a Kozak sequence and an ATG start codon just before…
Review: Back-of-the envelope Fermi calculations in plant science
Plant Science Research WeeklyI think one of the most important lessons a scientist learns is to cross-check their findings with a different approach in order to determine if the findings are reasonable. This interesting article by Oliveira-Filho and Campos-Silva et al. lays out several examples of using back-of-the envelope or Fermi…
Posttranslational regulation of photosynthetic activity via the TOR kinase in plants
Plant Science Research WeeklyIn the dazzling dance of plant cellular life, chloroplasts must groove in harmony with growth to sidestep the perils of photooxidative damage. This harmony between photosynthesis and photooxidative damage is orchestrated by the guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) signalling pathway which traces its roots…
Convergent evolution of desiccation tolerance in grasses
Plant Science Research WeeklyMany bryophytes and other non-seed plants are tolerant to vegetative desiccation, which is thought to have been necessary for colonization of land. By contrast, most seed plants lack this capacity, although they retain desiccation tolerance in their pollen and seeds. However, some seed plants, known…
Using a historic wheat collection to revolutionize breeding
Plant Science Research WeeklyWheat (Triticum aestivum) is an important crop, making up ~20% of food consumed worldwide. As the population grows, wheat yields must increase to meet demand. To achieve this, genetically diverse wheat landraces (aka traditional varieties, which are locally adapted cultivars) can be utilized. Here, Cheng…
Shoot impairments upon root waterlogging
Plant Science Research WeeklyIn this article by Haverroth et al., the authors explore plant-water dynamics in the shoot during and after waterlogging, using as a model Phaseolus vulgaris, which is particularly sensitive to waterlogging. One of the interesting findings is that early after waterlogging and prior to leaf dehydration,…
Harnessing the potential of soil microbial allies to combat Striga infection in sorghum roots
Plant Science Research WeeklyMicrobial neighbors of plants in the soil comprise of a vast array of bacteria and fungi, collectively known as the microbiome. This soil microbial community forms close associations with plants and regulates plant growth and development by inducing changes in the plant and soil metabolites. In this…
Hydration source determines carbon asymmetry and physiological activities in lichen-forming symbionts
Plant Science Research WeeklyMetabolic activities in symbionts are often described as physiologically synchronized, but sometimes, as in the case of coral bleaching, this synchrony can break down. This breakdown was observed in lichen by Meyer et al. when they examined the physiologies of Evernia mesomorpha fungal and algal components…