Opinion: Genomic studies hint at what makes a tree a tree This is such an engaging and though-provoking review article. I’d love to ask a group of students to think about what makes a tree a tree, including such questions as: How do we define trees? Do woody plants share a single origin? How many…

This is an interesting and engaging review article, written by a team from Bayer US Crop Science, on how mutations (broadly defined) have benefited plant domestication and breeding. While it briefly covers the basics, such as population genetics, it really focuses on demystifying and normalizing the…

This review by Somssich et al., part of a forthcoming Focus Collection on Metabolites, provides an overview of the chemical arsenal of defense compounds in plants. Playfully titled “Guns in Rosettes”, it focuses on the well-characterized model plant Arabidopsis. The article discusses defense metabolites…

I was initially drawn to this review by curiosity about its title; I realized I hadn’t ever wondered how and why viral infections cause symptoms in plants. I’m so glad I looked into it! This is a compelling and fascinating review that takes a broad look at plant-virus interactions. It starts with…

Every plant begins its life as a single cell, which divides, differentiates, and gradually gives rise to the intricate tissues and organs we see. Initially, plant cells are highly versatile, able to divide and give rise to many other cell types. During development, cells receive signals that control…

Plants have an extraordinary ability to regenerate entire organs or even embryos from a single somatic cell, a phenomenon known as totipotency. Remarkably, differentiated cells can reacquire totipotency and form embryos through somatic embryogenesis, however molecular mechanisms behind this developmental…

Plants are sessile and must sense and adapt to environmental stresses, including mechanical forces from wind or physical contact. Mechanosensitive genes, such as those in the Mechanosensitive channel of Small conductance-Like (MSL) family, prevent cell rupture by acting as osmotic safety valves under…

Plants don’t grow alone. They cultivate vibrant microbial communities around their roots that shape their growth, health, and resilience. Root exudates, cocktails of secreted metabolites, play a key role in selectively recruiting beneficial soil bacteria. Yet when, where, and how these exudates are…