Recent Posts

Arabinogalactan-proteins of Zostera marina L. contain unique glycan structures and provide insight into adaption processes to saline environments (Sci. Reports)

Seagrasses are fascinating examples of adaptation. Like dolphins and other sea mammals, they are marine-dwelling descendants of species that had fully adapted to life on land. To survive submerged in saltwater has necessitated morphological, anatomical and physiological adaptations. Recent genome analysis…

Origins and evolution of cuticle biosynthetic machinery in land plants (Plant Physiology)

The availability of annotated genomes for a wide range of plants allows for tremendous opportunity to perform comparative genomics studies such as that carried out by Kong et al. detailing the evolution of cuticle biosynthesis. The cuticle is the waxy hydrophobic layer that protects aerial plant tissue…

Vascular transcription factors guide plant epidermal responses to limiting phosphate conditions (Science)

Plants produce more root hairs (epidermal projections) in response to low soil phosphate and the detailed mechanism of this developmental response remains elusive. TARGET OF MONOPTEROS 5 (TMO5) and LONESOME HIGHWAY (LHW) are vascular specific bHLH proteins that work as a heterodimer to activate the rate…

Plant Science Research Weekly: October 2, 2020

Review: Dry architecture: towards the understanding of the variation of longevity in desiccation- tolerant germplasm ($) Most seeds, pollen grains, and fern spores are desiccation-tolerant, meaning they remain viable after drying to low water contents. Given this property, they can be stored in cold…

Recognizing Plant Physiology authors: Zhifeng Wang

Zhifeng Wang, first author of MYB transcription factor 161 mediates feedback regulation of Secondary wall-associated NAC-Domain 1 family genes for wood formation Current Position: Ph.D. candidate Education: Ph.D. and MS from State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University,…

Recognizing Plant Cell authors: Cristina Castillejo Mangado

Cristina Castillejo Mangado, first author of Allelic Variation of MYB10 is the Major Force Controlling Natural Variation of Skin and Flesh Color in Strawberry (Fragaria spp.) fruit Current Position: Research Associate at Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera de Andalucía (IFAPA) Education:…

Recognizing Plant Physiology authors: Swayoma Banerjee

Swayoma Banerjee, co-first author of Spatial profiles of phosphate in roots indicate developmental control of uptake, recycling, and sequestration Current Position: Process Engineer, Intel Corp. Education: PhD, Biology, Texas A&M University, USA Non-scientific Interests: music, travel Brief…

Recognizing Plant Physiology authors: Abira Sahu

Abira Sahu, co-first author of Spatial profiles of phosphate in roots indicate developmental control of uptake, recycling, and sequestration Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Michigan Education: PhD, Biology, Texas A&M University, USA; Tech, Biotechnology, Heritage…

Recognizing Plant Cell authors: Feng Xiong

Feng Xiong, first author of Transcriptional regulation of PLETHORA1 in root meristem through an importin and its two antagonistic cargos Current Position: Research assistant in State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, China Education: obtained…